LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Electronic cigarettes, also known as vapes, are presenting a new challenge for Louisville waste officials, as improper disposal methods pose both health and environmental risks.
Vape companies market e-cigarettes as disposable, but there’s almost nowhere to safely throw them away. Karen Maynard, Louisville Metro’s Solid Waste education manager, said, “Vapes are a more recent thing. We actually get calls a lot, like one a week at least. Unfortunately, [that policy is] a little vague right now.”
The EPA classifies vapes as hazardous because of the lithium battery and leftover nicotine. Regulators say they can leak chemicals or spark fires…