Close All Tabs Twitter on a Vape: Puff, Post, Pollute
Apr 16, 2025
Yogi Hale Hendlin, an environmental philosopher and public health researcher, joins tech reporter Samantha Cole to discuss the alarming rise of high-tech disposable vapes. They delve into the environmental hazards posed by these devices, emphasizing their contribution to e-waste and pollution. Cole shares her personal experience with a touchscreen vape that integrates social media, while Hendlin explains the regulatory loopholes that allow these products to thrive. The conversation calls for a rethinking of consumption and disposal practices in our increasingly digital world.
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Samantha Cole's Internet Vape Experience
- Samantha Cole tried a disposable vape with a touchscreen that showed social media notifications connected via Bluetooth.
- She became quickly addicted to the nicotine and the intermittent internet interaction on the device.
Disposable Vapes Drive E-Waste Crisis
- Disposable vapes combine plastic, batteries, and electronics but are discarded after only a few weeks.
- Their waste adds to a growing e-waste problem since they do not degrade and are often not recycled.
Flavor Loophole Fuels Disposable Vapes
- The FDA banned flavored pods for rechargeable vapes but not for disposables, creating a flavor loophole exploited by manufacturers.
- This loophole drives disposable vape popularity especially among youth, maintaining addiction and flavors on the market.