California takes aim at vape waste with statewide ban

California is taking a stand against one of the fastest-growing sources of electronic waste: disposable vapes. On Wednesday, California Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin introduced AB762 — which she is sponsoring alongside Assemblymember Lori Wilson — a bill that would ban single-use nicotine and cannabis vapes statewide. These devices, which are designed to be thrown away after a few days of use, pollute our beaches, consume valuable resources, and clog our waste stream.

Throwaway vapes are a growing source of waste

If you’ve walked down a city street or visited a beach recently, chances are you’ve seen brightly colored disposable vapes littering the ground. Unlike cigarette butts, a form of pollution which eventually degrades, disposable vapes contain plastic, lithium batteries and hazardous chemicals that don’t break down. This long-lasting waste threatens wildlife and the environment.

Each year, Americans toss out almost 142 million of these devices — 4.5 every second. That staggering amount of toxic electronic waste includes lithium, copper and other precious materials that could be repurposed for more essential uses, such as electric vehicle batteries. Instead, they usually end up in landfills, where they can leach harmful chemicals into the soil and water.

Disposable vapes: A recycling nightmare

Photo by Elsa Olofsson | Unsplash.com

While manufacturers of rechargeable electronics are increasingly being held accountable for recycling the products they produce, there’s no easy way to responsibly dispose of vapes because their small lithium batteries are not removable. The result? Most users simply throw them away, adding to the growing e-waste crisis.

California can stop vape waste

California has long been a leader in environmental protections and waste reduction. AB762 continues that legacy by addressing a product that has no place in a sustainable future. Disposable vapes are specifically designed with built-in obsolescence — they’re meant to be discarded after just a few days. 

CALPIRG Legislative Advocate Fiona Hines stands with CALPIRG students and bill sponsor Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin in front of the Capitol Building in Sacramento.Photo by CALPIRG Staff | TPIN

The bill was introduced at a press conference this morning outside the state capitol building in Sacramento. Supporters of the bill, including environmental groups, recyclers and students, spoke at the conference alongside Assemblymember Irwin. During the bill’s introduction, Joe La Mariana, executive director of RethinkWaste, a recycling group based in San Mateo County, emphasized that disposable vapes pose a fire hazard at waste facilities, making them not only an environmental concern but also a safety risk.

The bigger picture: A shift away from disposable electronics

The issue of disposable vapes is part of a larger problematic trend: the growing production of disposable electronics. Companies are designing more products, from single-use e-cigarettes to other short-lived gadgets, to be used for a short time and then, inevitably, thrown away. This practice is not just wasteful — it’s dangerous for the environment and a drain on natural resources.

Other countries have already taken steps to address the problem. The UK recently announced a nationwide ban on disposable vapes, and several other nations are considering similar measures. The U.S. has lagged behind, but California’s proposed ban could be the push needed to bring national attention to the issue. Such national action is within reach, because across the political spectrum, many Americans are concerned about illegal disposable vapes: a Republican introduced a bill in the Mississippi state senate, and a policy group aligned with President Trump just dropped huge money on an advertisement aiming to stop the sale of these illegal vapes..

Time for action

It’s clear that disposable vapes spell disaster for both the environment and public safety, and AB762 presents a commonsense solution. No electronic device should be designed to be thrown away after a few days of use. By banning these wasteful products, California can set a precedent for other states to follow and help curb the rapid rise of electronic waste. It’s time to prioritize sustainability over convenience and move toward a future where our technology is built to last—not to be tossed aside.