Do NOT put e-cigarettes in your household
trash or recycling

. The lithium batteries can become damaged arid cause
fires.

. Nicotine is toxic and poses a risk to both workers and
the environment.

DO take e-cigarettes to your household
hazardous waste (HHW) collection site

. Many towns and counties have collection programs for
HHW, which can be identified by searching oniine for
HHW collections near you or contacting your local solid
waste agency.

. Typically HHW collections are free for residents.

. The e-cigarettes will be managed safely and prevent
fires and releases of harmful chemicals to the
environment.

E-Cigarettes Contain Nicotine and Lithium Batteries

E-cigarettes contain nicotine and lithium batteries, making them
hazardous waste.

Nicotine is toxic. Liquid nicotine in e-cigarettes can be easily absorbed
by the skin, potentially causing nicotine poisoning with symptoms that
include difficulty breathing, fainting, or seizures. Nicotine can also
harm fish and other aquatic organisms.

Lithium batteries can catch fire, especially when damaged. When
An e-cigarette showing the portions that placed in household trash and recycling bins, lithium batteries

often get damaged by trash compactors and can cause fires during
transportation and at waste and recycling facilities.

contain the two hazards.

Benefits of HHW Collection

Taking your e-cigarette waste to a HHW collection
site is the best way to ensure that your hazardous
waste does not:

. Cause a fire.

. Expose first responders and other workers to
toxic chemicals.

. Release toxic chemicals into the environment.

Firefighter extinguishing a lithium battery fire after the combusted
pile of recyclables was moved outside by a municipal recycling
facility operator. Photo courtesy of Larimer County Solid Waste
Department, Colorado.

vvEPA

Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery

EPA 530-F-23-011
November 2023

https://www.epa.gov/hw/household-hazardous-waste-hhw

A customer carefully disposing of multiple e-cigarettes
at an HHW collection site. Photo courtesy of Mesa
County, Colorado HHW

Lithium

Nicotine


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