Vapes harm more than your body. Disposable vape devices and refillable vape pods hurt the environment, too. Throwing away vapes creates a waste stream of plastic, nicotine salts, heavy metals, mercury, and A toxic, plastic problem: E cigarette waste and the environment Communities can't recycle or trash disposable e cigarettes. So what happens to them? AP News E cigarettes pose a 'triple threat' to the environment, says Clean Up Australia waste report Australian Geographic