Disposable Vapes Environmental Impact: A Growing Concern and the Road to Regulation Ecigator Vapes are harmful and can be highly addictive. Some disposable vapes have nearly tripled in nicotine strength in the span of only 5 years. We throw away five million disposable vapes every year in the UK. This amounts to eight vapes being discarded every second. Councillor Clyde Loakes, chair of the North London Waste Assembly, is urging With more vapes getting thrown away every year, it's become a growing environmental problem. Vapes contain heavy metals, nicotine, and other chemicals, which leach toxic pollutants into the soil and waterways when Vape waste is toxic. Disposable vapes contain lithium batteries and chemicals that leak into soil and water. Millions end up in landfills every year. Protect your health and the environment by quitting