How so?Once in the back of a refuse or recycling truck, surrounded by dry paper and cardboard, pressure and heat can cause lithium ion batteries to spark, causing a rolling inferno. In fact, lithium ion batteries are one of the leading causes of recycling-truck fires.According to their manufacturers, safe disposal of lithium ion batteries requires ensuring that they’re fully discharged and cooled, then submerging them in cold saltwater for two weeks-covered securely with a lid-before wrapping them in newspaper and placing them in the trash.Again, the easier path is to take advantage of recycling programs offered by e-cigarette manufacturers and vendors. This is because it’s dangerous to toss lithium ion batteries into a trash or recycling bin. For example, in Minnesota, there is no minimal amount or concentration of nicotine-containing material that is exempt from regulation, and specified e-cigarette waste includes but isn’t limited to:Vaping liquid itselfShipping or storage containers for e-cigarette cartridgesUsed e-cigarette cartridges that have not been triple-rinsedWaste water from triple-rinsing e-cigarette cartridgesE-cigarettes themselvesDisposing of “vape” lithium ion batteriesFor retail consumers, the EPA doesn’t regulate the disposal of batteries in small quantities, although local jurisdictions might have specific rules for electronic waste disposal. Only then can it all be discarded as you would any other plastic waste.For commercial and industrial enterprises, many jurisdictions stipulate that any discarded waste containing any concentration of nicotine requires hazardous waste management, and the rules can be severe. The cartridge itself should be similarly rinsed and then sealed with its original plug. This is an easier path to eco-friendly behavior than doing it yourself.According to most authorities, the proper disposal of e-cigarette cartridges 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.
However, without proper hazardous waste disposal, cartridges with residual solution pose a threat to domestic pets and wildlife, should the residual nicotine find its way into the environment, and even to children, should they find the expended cartridges and play with them.On the consumer level, many e-cigarette manufacturers and vendors nowadays offer recycling programs, with the incentive of discounted or free products for so many “vapes” returned for reclamation. But two “vape” components-the cartridge and the lithium ion battery-require hazardous waste removal.Disposing of “vape” cartridgesOnce expended, “vape” cartridges that held the flavored nicotine solution are typically discarded. So e-cigarettes are doubtless more eco-friendly than their conventional counterparts. This activates a microprocessor that modulates the heating element, vaporizing the solution, and thus producing a flavored nicotine aerosol that provides a sensation akin to smoking when inhaled.How e-cigarettes polluteConventional cigarette butts comprise approximately 38 percent of litter worldwide and conventional cigarette filters are made of cellulose acetate, which takes about 12 years to biodegrade into its more ecologically benign constituents.
The user draws on the e-cigarette as she might a conventional smoke. That’s a lot of electronic “vapes.” And so the question arises: Do e-cigarettes require hazardous waste disposal?In a word: Yes. And although everyone has likely seen an e-cigarette by now, the approximately 313 million Americans who don’t use them probably have only a vague sense of how they differ from conventional cigarettes-let alone the pollution problem they can present.How they workBroadly speaking, e-cigarettes have three main components: a cartridge that holds the flavored nicotine “vaping” solution, a heating element, and a lithium ion battery. Website AdminT13:50:58-05:00July 17th, 2017|Hazardous Waste| View Larger Image As of 2014, per the latest available report from the Centers for Disease Control, 3.7 percent of American adults use e-cigarettes, more than 9 million people.