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It may seem like a reasonable idea to use vaping as a way to cut down on tobacco cigarettes, but the implications of this switch are becoming increasingly concerning as South Africa’s vaping numbers skyrocket.

We’ve all heard the murmurings of vape horror stories, including this shocking footage of a baby inhaling e-vapour, but there’s a larger issue at play that South Africans need to pay heed to. Namely, proper waste disposal.

It may be an enjoyable luxury to be able to pick up a disposable vape at your corner shop and simply toss it away when the juice is used up, but electronic disposal experts, like recycling group Desco, have estimated that 95% of disposable ‘single-use’ vapes and related e-cigarette products end up clogging up landfill sites. Plus, these devices contain hazardous materials, like lithium-ion batteries, that leak toxic substances if not handled correctly.

Desco is now urging producers, sellers and retailers to come up with incentives for customers to ensure that their electronic smoking devices are disposed of properly. The recycling group is even pushing for reward programs to be implemented to encourage consumers to return used vapes and e-cigarettes so the waste items may be processed safely.

This call for crisis mitigation in the face of vaping’s popularity comes against a backdrop of the South African government’s discussions around new laws to regulate the vape and e-cigarette sector through the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill. While the bill lapsed with the end of the sixth administration before the 2024 national elections, it is almost certain to be revived by the seventh parliament for further processing. At this point, the state cannot ignore the proverbial vapour clouds consuming the country. GNU, the vape is in your court.

While the government works out the sticky policy details, Desco director Giulio Airaga has been outspoken regarding what kinds of actions are needed to mitigate the environmental impact of e-smoking devices. Simply placing general bans on products is just not going to cut it.

“We need rapid growth in accessible and visible vape recycling drop-off points and proper financing for genuine recycling solutions to recover materials. Until single-use vape producers, importers, and retailers comply with and finance their legal environmental responsibilities, calls for banning their sale will only grow stronger.”

Recent research by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) reinforces Desco’s urgent call; the research group revealed that South Africa generates approximately 360,000 tons of e-waste annually, with an embarrassingly marginal fraction of items recycled.

That being said, the government has also acknowledged the realities in South Africa, such as the fact that waste management cannot be handled on a national level, and it will be up to local governments and municipalities to implement waste-mitigation programs. Normal waste collection is already a challenge for many local municipalities and hazardous waste management is more complex and costly.

While it may seem like there’s little light at the end of the vapour cloud, this kind of environmental research and added pressure on policy-makers is a good start on SA’s journey to clearer air & emptier landfills.

Vape if you must, but remember that your little smoke-sucker needs to be tossed away correctly, lest we all suffer the environmental consequences.

[source:businesstech]