What is an e-cigarette, and how does e-cigarette waste impact the environment?
An e-cigarette (or electronic cigarette) is a battery-powered device that heats a liquid (often called e-liquid or vape juice) containing nicotine, propylene glycol, flavorings, and other chemicals to produce a vapor, which is inhaled. Unlike traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes don’t burn tobacco, but they still deliver nicotine to the user.
E-cigarette waste, including disposable pods, batteries, and plastic components, is non-biodegradable and often non-recyclable when contaminated with e-liquid. Improper disposal can leach toxic substances like lithium and heavy metals into soil and water.
Click the following links to learn more:
- Electronic cigarette. (n.d.). National Cancer Institute. Retrieved July 11, 2023, from https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/electronic-cigarette
- Novotny, T. E., Bialous, S. A., & Hill, K. (2022). Tobacco product waste in California: A white paper. California Tobacco Control Program, California Department of Public Health.
- Public Health Law Center. 2023. Tobacco Product Waste: A Public Health and Environmental Toolkit, Law and Policy Partnership to End the Commercial Tobacco Epidemic.