This report from BusinessTech, published on 14 July 2024.

As more South Africans turn from tobacco cigarettes and smoking joints to vaping, the question of the concomitant rise in electronic waste and proper disposal is yet to be addressed.

According to electronic disposal experts at recycling group Desco, 95% of disposable ‘single-use’ vapes and related e-cigarette products are estimated to end up in landfills, which poses a significant risk to the environment.

The government has been pushing for new laws to regulate the vape and e-cigarette sector in South Africa through the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill.

While the bill lapsed with the end of the sixth administration before the 2024 national elections, it is almost certainly on the list to be revived by the country’s seventh parliament for further processing.

Unfortunately, the bill’s primary focus is on the regulation of the sale and marketing of vape (and other tobacco) products—and new tax regulations introduced in mid-2023 focused on excise duties attached to the products.

There has yet to be a concerted effort by the government or industry players to deal with the rapid rise of electronic waste that comes with its use.

Desco is now urging producers, sellers, and retailers to find ways to deal with the looming crisis.

One of the suggested methods is to incentivise consumers to return used vapes and e-cigarettes for proper disposal.

“We need rapid growth in accessible and visible vape recycling drop-off points and proper financing for genuine recycling solutions to recover materials,” said Desco director Giulio Airaga.

“Until single-use vape producers, importers, and retailers comply with and finance their legal environmental responsibilities, calls for banning their sale will only grow stronger.”

More importantly, compliance with current regulations and investment in waste collection points both at the point of use and the point of sale are crucial for reducing the environmental impact of single-use vapes.

The risk posed by vapes comes from the devices themselves, which contain hazardous materials such as lithium-ion batteries that can leak toxic substances if not handled correctly.

“E-cigarettes are becoming an exploding waste stream,” Airaga warned.

“These products are easily accessible, relatively inexpensive, and often disposed of improperly. With less than 5% of the market likely recycling these products, it’s probable that over 95% end up in landfills.”

Research by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) underscores the urgent need for better e-waste management practices. A recent CSIR study revealed that South Africa generates approximately 360,000 tons of e-waste annually, with a very small percentage being recycled.

The government has positioned itself to better tackle issues with e-waste in particular, with a 2023 Household Hazardous Waste Management Strategy outlining various plans to better incentivise recycling.

Some of the proposals included take-back schemes and possible household taxes.

However, the government has also acknowledged the realities in South Africa, such as the fact that waste management cannot be handled on a national level, and it will be up to local governments and municipalities to implement these programmes.

Normal waste collection is already a challenge to many local municipalities that are crumbling under financial pressures and constraints – and hazardous waste management is more complex and carries a higher cost.

Financing thus remains a significant hurdle.

According to Airaga, this emphasises the need for producers, sellers, and retailers of products like e-cigarettes and vapes to come to the party and find solutions before it’s too late.