Solano County Office of Education

Tobacco's Environmental Impact

Tobacco cultivation (growing and harvesting) destroys forests, diminishes water supplies, and devastates soils; while the manufacturing assists in the production of toxic waste. Tobacco product waste are poisoning rivers, lakes, oceans and marine life, polluting beaches and waterways and wildlife in urban areas.

City of Baltimore Sues Tobacco Companies for Clean-up Costs

Is Tobacco Bad for the Environment? The Facts are Surprising.

COMBUSTIBLE CIGARETTES

Cigarette butts are the most commonly littered item. In 2020, there were more than 900,000 cigarette butts found in the US; and an estimated 1.69 billion pounds of cigarette butts end up in waste annually. They are dangerous for several reasons:

They are poisonous when ingested by children and animals.
Toxic chemicals found in cigarette butts are poisonous to marine life and ecosystems.
Highly toxic substances leak out and are harmful to freshwater micro-organisms.

Discarded cigarette butts have ignited wildfires, burning hundreds of thousands acres of land, destroying properties and homes, and displacing wildlife. In August 2020, over 300 acres burned in Solano County, and the cause? A discarded cigarette butt according to fire officials.

KCRA News article and footage - Solano County Fire 2020

MICROPLASTICS

Cigarette filters (aka. butts or ends) are made of a plastic called cellulose acetate; when these filters are discarded they not only dump plastic into the environment but also heavy metals, nicotine and other toxic chemicals. These filters can take years to degrade, but when they do, they break down into microplastics, or tiny pieces of plastic. It is these microplastics that pose an increased hazard to lakes, rivers, oceans, and other waterways.

Did you know?
One cigarette butt in a liter of water will kill half the fish living in it.

Did you know?
The toxic chemicals leaked by cigarette butts can remain in the water for up to 10 years.

ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES

Electronic cigarettes (vapes, e-cigs, vape pens, mods, etc.) have been in the U.S. since 2007, and have been the most commonly used tobacco product among teens since 2014. E-cigarettes have the potential to cause more damage to our environment because they contain metal, circuitry, and batteries that have other toxic chemicals in the e-liquid (or e-juice) not found in traditional combustible cigarettes. E-cigarette manufacturers don't provide guidelines/instructions for proper and safe disposal of the products, including pods/cartridges.

WHAT IS E-CIGARETTE WASTE?

E-cigarette or vape waste includes disposable vapes, pods/cartridges, e-juice containers and packages, and the batteries. E-cigarette waste is particularly bad for the environment because it is three waste forms in one: plastic, hazardous and electronic waste. Each one is hazardous to the environment.

Plastic Waste: The device casing and pod components are made from plastic. Plastic is harmful to the environment because it doesn't biodegrade like organic materials - it can take 20 - 500 years for plastic to decompose.

Hazardous Waste: The heavy metals, nicotine, and other toxic chemicals in the e-juice. Improper disposal can lead to accidental nicotine poisoning and toxic chemicals seeping into the ground and water sources, poisoning wildlife and contaminating drinking water.

Nicotine: is a neurotoxin that has been used as a pesticide. Since 1980 it has been considered an acute hazardous waste by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Electronic Waste: The lithium-ion batteries and the heating element.

SO WHY IS E-CIGARETTE WASTE A PROBLEM?

E-cigarettes and vapes accessories contain nicotine and other heavy metals that when thrown in the trash contaminate the environment. The lithium batteries, and batteries in general, leak lead, cobalt, and other chemicals in the environment. These chemicals are toxic to animals, soil, and marine ecosystems; creating downstream health risks for humans and the environment.

E-juice cartridges are not so easily disposed due to the toxic chemicals they hold. As of now, there is no clear and safe way to recycle used pods in the United States.