UK to Ban Disposable Vapes Over Environmental Impact Vapes harm more than your body. Disposable vape devices and refillable vape pods hurt the environment, too. Throwing away vapes creates a waste stream of plastic, nicotine salts, heavy metals, mercury, and Vapes aren't harmless and they're a health and environmental issue. Disposable vapes contain plastic, toxic chemicals, and lithium batteries that can leak into soil and water, harming wildlife and polluting our E cigarettes pose a 'triple threat' to the environment, says Clean Up Australia waste report Australian Geographic