In Russia, the danger of vaping for the environment has been revealed

Vapes have proven to be dangerous for the environment because they are almost impossible to recycle. This was reported to Izvestia on September 24 by the Russian Environmental Operator (REO).

The main problem of processing such waste is the lack of a single standard and the overly complex design of the devices, the REO noted. Each vape weighs from 120 to 250 g, of which about 50 g is accounted for by the battery. These batteries take hundreds of years to decompose, releasing toxic substances that pollute the soil and water.

Millions of devices sold end up in landfills every year, instead of becoming part of a closed-loop economy, the REO emphasized. They also explained that battery recycling is technically possible, but in reality it is extremely difficult, since many such devices are large in size, consist of dozens of parts, so they have to be disassembled manually, which takes up to one hour.

At the same time, the smoking device housings are made of low-quality composite plastic, which is not accepted by processors. Therefore, most of the devices are disposed of. Currently, there is only one battery recycling plant in Russia, in the Yaroslavl region, with a capacity of about 1.8 tons per year.

Summarizing their comment, the REO added that an increase in environmental collection rates for producers and importers could improve this situation. These funds are allocated to recycling companies and help to cover the costs of recycling.

To dispel smoke: will vape sales be banned in Russia?

The State Duma may consider a bill on this as early as March

On September 19, representatives of the REO told Izvestia that new rules may come into force on the territory of the Russian Federation starting from September 1, 2026, according to which unmanned aerial laser scanning systems, aerial photography and thermal imaging will be used to scan landfills. The ministry clarified that this draft law, developed by the REO together with the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia, has already been sent to the Cabinet of Ministers for consideration.

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