Environment groups call for urgent action on hazardous waste from e-cigarettes

Environment groups have called for urgent clarity and regulation to respond to an increase in hazardous waste from e-cigarettes, as vaping becomes more popular.

The number of people using e-cigarettes doubled between 2016 and 2019, according to the federal government, with a survey showing more than 30% of 14- to 17-year-olds have tried vaping.

Some local councils including the City of Sydney accept vapes in their e-waste collections, but many do not due to concerns about potential leaching of battery acid, lithium and nicotine. The devices have also been linked to explosions and fires.

Many product stewardship schemes do not accept e-cigarettes or can only process the battery. Disposable vapes often have an encapsulated battery that cannot be removed.

According to the New South Wales Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), many vaping stores do provide basic information on how to discard products, but this is of limited use as regulations vary widely across the state.

Mead suggested the federal government play a bigger role in regulation and ensure all products can be safely disposed.

The federal environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, supports reform although any action would require cooperation from state, territory and local governments.

US based hazardous waste firm PegEx has said proper disposal of an e-cigarette requires removing the filler material, rinsing it under running water until all nicotine residues are removed, and then wrapping it in a scrap of biodegradable material.

In 2021, a mine worker sustained severe burns to his leg when an e-cigarette spontaneously ignited in his pocket. The state government subsequently warned a similar explosion in an underground mine or near explosives could be catastrophic.

The Victorian smoking and health survey, conducted by the Cancer Council, found the number of adults vaping had nearly doubled from 154,895 in 2018-19 to 308,827 in 2022.

On 1 January, Plibersek encouraged Australians to give up vaping as a new year resolution, claiming tobacco companies were intentionally marketing vape flavours and packaging that would appeal to a younger market.