Annisa, England and Wales recently took a monumental step towards reducing toxic pollution and safeguarding public health: banning single-use disposable vapes. Each week, people toss out five million of these devices. This is wreaking havoc on our environment. And since their batteries contain hazardous chemicals like lithium, battery acid, and mercury, this is about even more than how horrible plastic pollution is. This is also about toxic contamination of our Earth, with chemicals leaking into our land and waterways.
Disposal of these items has led to fires in trash receptacles and waste-processing facilities, toxic runoffs, and a sharp rise in dangerous pollution levels across our communities.
And it doesn't stop there. Disposable vapes are often designed with bright colors and flashy packaging, which directly targets children and young people. Alarmingly, 90% of disposable vape users have never smoked cigarettes, but now they've become the next generation of nicotine users. This is fueling an epidemic of addiction.
Countries like Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, and Brazil have already implemented similar bans, recognizing that single-use plastics are incompatible with a sustainable future. The decision by England and Wales to join their ranks by banning single-use vapes is a victory, but our work isn't done.
Sign the petition now to urge the EU to also join the growing movement. It must ban single-use disposable vapes and align to reduce this dangerous waste! |