The Issue At Hand
While the 2020 FDA ban on flavored, cartridge-based vapes was intended to protect youth, it inadvertently created a massive loophole. The resulting surge in disposable vape usage has triggered a two-fold crisis that our communities are currently ill-equipped to handle:
A Growing Public Health Emergency: Data from 2024 reveals that 1 in 5 high school students now report using a vape. Alarmingly, daily nicotine vaping has nearly doubled since 2020, with nearly 90% of youth vapers preferring flavored products.
An Escalating Environmental Threat: We are seeing 4.5 disposable vapes discarded every single second. These devices contain "acute hazardous waste"—including lithium batteries, plastic, metal, and liquid nicotine—that lack a clear, safe recycling pathway, leading to massive accumulation in our city's waste systems.Through intentional collection, outreach, and education programs VWP works to challenge the conventional approach to e-cigarette disposal and encourage a more sustainable alternative.
The "Recycle Your Vape" Initiative
To address this, We Are Atlas and the Vape Waste Project spearheaded a pilot program to intercept this waste while demanding systemic change. Our strategy moved beyond simple collection; it was designed to force a public conversation on the intersection of policy, health, and environmental responsibility.
Through a combination of mobile drop-off events and strategic placement of stationary collection boxes in neighborhood hotspots, we proved that there is significant public appetite for sustainable disposal solutions. Beyond the physical collection, our team leveraged extensive media outreach, social media campaigns, and community flyering to pressure local officials and bring the legislative stagnation of bills like S3063 to the forefront of public discourse.
Pilot Impact: By the Numbers
The pilot program, documented in full detail in the Recycle Your Vape 2025 Collection Pilot Report, demonstrates the tangible success of community-led waste interception.
Total Waste Diverted - ~210 lbs (~5,000 disposable vapes)
Event-Based Collection - ~75 lbs (1,500 devices)
Drop-Box Collection - 135 lbs (~3,500 devices)
Public Engagement - Over 30,000 social media impressions
Media Reach - Features in 5 online articles and 1010 WINS
Dive Deeper: Download the Full Report
The statistics above are only a brief snapshot of the systemic challenges and potential pathways forward. To understand our full methodology, our detailed stakeholder analysis, and our roadmap for future advocacy, we invite you to review our comprehensive findings.
Download the Full Recycle Your Vape 2025 Collection Pilot Report Here --->
Join the Movement: The fight to regulate vape waste and protect public health is far from over. Download the report today to arm yourself with the facts, and contact us to learn how you can support our next phase of advocacy.