Youth vaping is falling. The waste isn’t.
Fewer students vape than at any point in a decade. Disposables still dominate what they use, and schools are left holding the devices.
What they’re using
Among students who vape, 55.6% most often use disposables, 15.6% use pods or cartridges, and 7.0% use tanks or mods. The most commonly reported brands were Elf Bar, Breeze and Mr. Fog. 38.4% reported frequent use and 26.3% daily use. [2][3]
Nationally, waste is moving the other way. U.S. PIRG estimates 5.7 disposable vapes were thrown out every second in 2023, up from 4.5 in 2022. [4]
Schools end up as collection points
Ohio EPA has published disposal guidance for schools handling confiscated devices. It suggests gloves and eye protection, because nicotine liquid on the outside of a device can be absorbed through skin, and placing each device, pod or cartridge in a sealable bag before it goes in the container. [5]