Tobacco Waste

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Source: VapesAreTrash.org

Environmental impacts from the production and use of commercial tobacco products are a global concern. Environmental impacts in the U.S. from e-cigarette waste, specifically, is a growing concern.

Cigarette butts are the most littered objects in the world. They contain toxic nicotine and plastic filters made of cellulose acetate that do not break down and leach toxic chemicals (i.e. arsenic, lead, and nicotine) into our water, soil, and air.¹

E-cigarettes are made up of plastic packaging, cartridges, batteries, and nicotine residue. Nicotine is classified as hazardous waste and shouldn’t be disposed of in household waste. Lithium-ion batteries in e-cigarettes must also be disposed of properly to avoid explosions, fires, and leaking of toxic chemicals, like cobalt.² Single-use e-cigarettes that are designed to be discarded have greatly complicated these problems. The FDA has not authorized most disposable e-cigarettes for sale in the U.S., so they are illegal but still widely available.

Nicotine pouches also contain toxic nicotine which is a hazardous waste. Nicotine pouches have been found to contain other toxic chemicals, including chromium and formaldehyde.³ The commercial tobacco industry attempts to market these products as a ‘sustainable’ alternative, which isn’t accurate. These pouches are made of a synthetic fiber material that isn’t biodegradable. The hard plastic cases can be difficult to recycle.

Commercial tobacco product waste is also an environmental justice and health equity concern. Tobacco product retailers are more densely concentrated in communities of color and lower income neighborhoods, leading to more tobacco-related litter and waste accumulation in these areas.⁴ Likewise, there is also an increasing amount of vape waste in close proximity to schools.⁵

Why Proper Disposal Matters
✔️ Protects people from toxic exposure.
✔️ Prevents fires from damaged lithium batteries.
✔️ Keeps waterways and wildlife safe from nicotine contamination.

Source: The Lancet

Data Snapshot

Cigarette butts are the most frequently littered item in the U.S., with over 750,000 metric tons ending up on streets, sidewalks, beaches, and other public areas each year.6
Keep America Beautiful counted nearly 900,000 littered e-cigarettes on U.S. roadways and waterways in 2020.6
In 2022, the Truth Initiative found over ⅔ of disposable e-cigarette users threw their e-cigarette waste in the household trash, instead of properly disposing at hazardous waste facilities.6

The commercial tobacco industry pollutes the environment and creates an extreme amount of waste. In 2021, they released over 715,000 pounds of toxic chemicals from their production facilities.6
According to a 2021 study from the Truth Initiative, 72% of U.S. adults support a $0.75 litter fee on cigarette packs.6
In Washington State, cigarette butts are one of the top 3 littered items on roadways, highway rest areas, and in state and county parks.7

Challenges and Impacts of Tobacco Waste Management

Tobacco product waste is not just an eyesore - it places a significant financial and environmental burden on local governments, schools, and other local entities. The costs associated with cleaning up cigarette butts, disposable e-cigarettes, and other tobacco-related waste continue to rise, draining public resources that could be allocated to essential services.

The High Cost of Cleanup

Local governments spend millions of dollars annually to remove tobacco waste from streets, parks, and waterways. It's estimated that some mid-sized U.S. cities spend up to $6 million per year on cigarette waste cleanup alone.8 Overall, the U.S. cost of cleaning up plastic cigarette butt litter and addressing damage to marine ecosystems has been estimated at $26 billion per year.9

Challenges of Hazardous Waste Disposal

Schools, businesses, and municipal facilities are legally required to dispose of confiscated e-cigarettes and nicotine products as hazardous waste, adding additional costs and regulatory challenges. Not only are schools struggling for resources to assist students who addicted to nicotine products, but they also must deal with the increasing amount and cost of confiscated e-cigarette waste.10

One school district in Boulder, Colorado paid nearly $200 to dispose of five pounds of e-cigarette devices and $210 to dispose of four pounds of e-liquids.11 The cost burden of proper disposal should fall on the commercial tobacco industry – not schools and local governments.

Legal and Policy Obligations

Many cities and counties must comply with state and federal environmental laws aimed at reducing tobacco product pollution. For example:

California’s Trash Amendments require municipalities to capture or prevent all trash from entering state waterways, making controlling tobacco waste a critical compliance issue.
Local governments share responsibility with state agencies in enforcing hazardous waste standards related to discarded nicotine and lithium-ion battery-containing products.

Policy Approaches

There is public demand for action against tobacco waste:
✔ 91% of California adults recognize that cigarette butts damage the environment.
✔ 82% believe the tobacco industry should be held responsible for the negative impact of their waste on the environment.
✔ 58% support banning single-use tobacco products to reduce litter.¹²

To reduce the financial and environmental burden of tobacco waste, governments are adopting or working on proactive policies such as:

Banning the sale of filtered cigarettes and single-use tobacco products like disposable e-cigarettes.
Requiring vape and tobacco industry businesses to implement take-back programs for disposal of their products.
Holding the tobacco industry accountable for the cost of cleaning up its products through licensing fees or other measures.

By enacting stronger tobacco waste reduction policies, governments can protect public health, reduce cleanup costs, and create cleaner, healthier communities for all.

Examples of Laws & Proposed Legislation

Local ordinances to prohibit the sale of filtered cigarettes to prevent plastic cigarette butt waste:

State legislation to prohibit cigarettes with single-use filters and/or prohibit disposable e-cigarettes:

California legislation proposed in 2025 to prohibit the sale of single-use, disposable vaping devices containing batteries. (AB-762)
New York state legislation proposed in 2025 to create a Tobacco Waste Reduction Act banning single-use e-cigarettes and cigarettes with single-use filters (S 2223). Versions of this bill have been worked on in past sessions.
California legislation proposed in 2019-2020 to ban the sale of tobacco products with single-use filters. (SB 424 Tobacco Product Waste bill)

Additional Resources:

2022 Tobacco Product Waste Briefing - California Department of Health
Model policy example: Curtis et al. Tobacco Control. 2017. Vol 26. Tobacco industry responsibility for butts: a Model Tobacco Waste Act

Disposal Policies and Guidance

Proper disposal of nicotine waste (cigarettes, vapes, e-cigarettes) is essential for safety, legal compliance, and environmental protection. Guidance for proper disposal in for schools and individuals in Washington State is provided here as a summary of resources.

For Individuals and Households

Cigarette butts are considered litter and should never be tossed on the ground. Ensure they are fully extinguished and put in an ashtray prior to throwing in the trash.

It’s also very important not to throw e-cigarettes directly into the household trash or recycling because nicotine is toxic and lithium ion batteries can catch on fire. Vapes and e-cigarettes should be disposed of at a household hazardous waste collection site. Check with your county government or waste service provider for local options.

In April and October each year, the DEA hosts local Drug Take Back Day events. Many will accept e-cigarette devices and cartridges, but not the lithium-ion batteries.

Do:

✔ Find your local household hazardous waste (HHW) facility for proper disposal of e-cigarettes, vape pods, and nicotine products.

✔ Use a fire-safe portable container (such as a metal tin with sand) to collect and store used cigarette butts before disposal.

✔ Dispose of lithium-ion batteries from vape devices at e-waste or battery recycling centers to prevent environmental contamination.

✔ Keep tobacco and vape waste out of reach of children and pets, as nicotine exposure can be highly toxic.

Don't:

✖️ Toss cigarette butts, vape pods, or disposable vapes on the ground. They contain plastic, heavy metals, and toxic chemicals that pollute the environment.

✖️ Put e-cigarettes, lithium-ion vape batteries, or nicotine pouches in household trash or recycling. These items are classified as hazardous waste and can cause fires.

✖️ Pour leftover e-liquid down sinks, toilets, or storm drains. Nicotine is a toxic substance that can contaminate drinking water and harm aquatic life.

For Schools

Schools and school staff have the challenging task of managing vape devices and other tobacco waste that is confiscated from students or discarded on school grounds. School staff need to protect themselves from exposure to toxic nicotine and store the batteries carefully to protect against fires or explosions. Most schools must follow disposal rules for small-quantity waste generators under the Washington State Dangerous Waste Regulations.

Learn more from the WA State Department of Ecology's webpage on Nicotine & Cannabis Waste.

Do:

✔ Set up a safe storage and designated disposal system for confiscated e-cigarettes, cigarette butts, and other tobacco waste.

✔ Partner with local hazardous waste collection programs to learn how to properly dispose of nicotine products and vape devices.

✔ Educate staff and students about the environmental and health impacts of improper tobacco waste disposal.

Don't:

✖️ Throw e-cigarettes, pods, or cartridges in the regular trash or recycling bins. These contain hazardous materials like nicotine residue and lithium-ion batteries.

✖️ Flush e-liquids, vape juice, or nicotine-containing liquids down the drain. This contaminates water sources and can be toxic to wildlife.

✖️ Ignore hazardous waste laws. Schools are legally required to dispose of confiscated nicotine products as hazardous waste.

ESD 123 fact sheet: Vape Product Handling & Disposal for Schools

Education About Toxic Tobacco Waste

We all play a critical role when it comes to protecting the environment from commercial tobacco product waste. Below are additional resources and campaigns to promote public awareness and education about the harms of disposable vapes and other commercial tobacco products on our environment.