How to Properly Dispose of & Recycle Disposable Vapes Vaping360 Vapes are litter! The nicotine in e liquids, as well as the heavy metals in vape batteries, are hazardous wastes that can leach into public waterways and harm our sensitive river species. Vape With more vapes getting thrown away every year, it's become a growing environmental problem. Vapes contain heavy metals, nicotine, and other chemicals, which leach toxic pollutants into the soil and waterways when Vapes don't just end up as waste, they're becoming a serious safety risk. This graphic shows the reality behind the growing vape problem in the UK: 1,200 fires linked to Disposable Vape Ban Leads Britons to Throw Away Reusables Instead Bloomberg