There is no doubt that vaping has become a worldwide epidemic. Regardless if you vape or not, and even if you live in a clean area with no litter hinting at some stranger’s vice, you’ll still be reminded of the vape addiction when you spend ten minutes in any crowd — next to a bar, a train stop, a high school, or literally anywhere. Unfortunately, primary schools make the cut since children aged nine or younger have already been rushed to hospital in the UK due to vaping.

Horrendous, yet sadly predictable! Kids growing up with parents who smoke tend to experiment with cigarettes — and smoke stinks! Meanwhile, vapes often smell like unicorn farts; so, can you blame those kiddos for trying them? If you ask me, they stand no chance — the-cotton-candy-bubble-gum-mango-ice-watermelon-temptation is too strong! ‘Amirite’ or wrong?

As it turns out, I am right. Please watch the video below all the way through. At the time it was created, 17 million disposable vapes were sold each month in the U.S.A. alone.

Seven months later, in December ’22, the number had already climbed to 22.7 million! An increase of almost six million units represents a significant increase, even more so in the statistics world! (It may very well give you rat vibes, because, you know, two rats can procreate over one million siblings in just 18 months!)

Rats multiply exponentially and vapes usage seems to grow, too, in an aggressive manner… unless you (and you…and you) … stop! You’re in the perfect spot then, because this book was written to help!

Since you are reading this, it means that you’re already seeking support or guidance for yourself or a loved one, and you know that vapes are not good for our bodies (not exactly Amor 365)! That’s-A-Great-Start-For-Quitting; more about it in a minute!

Before we continue, let’s return to the first paragraph and expand the setting described, from bars and buildings to forests and beaches, much like in the video from above.

Did you know that after the 4^th of July Weekend ’23 at Lake Tahoe, California, almost four tons of fresh celebratory trash were left behind, and that vapes made it ‘on the list’? Indeed, out of all the litter collected by volunteers, five items stood out  — beer cans, towels, shoes, socks, and vape pens! You gotta love them (not!)

Now, let’s criticize vapes some more! Also in the first paragraph of this essay, you find out about the young children who vaped counterfeit merchandise! That is evil! However, today, anyone having their hands on a $ 50.000 credit line could create their own brand of vapes in a week. So focusing solely on big corporations got old! When it comes to the vaping industry, watch your back; your wacko uncle, or even a youngster with little understanding of health and life could quickly release on the market their brand of vapes in a matter of days (given that they inherited funds from a relative, or perhaps they made money on the Internet).

Quiz time!

‘Which is more evil?’  (For the sake of this quiz, please pronounce ‘Which is more Evo?’ — with a foreign accent works just fine ; )

Is it the Elf Bar? Is it the counterfeit Evo Bar? Or is it the one that comes with a hook, allowing the user to ‘conveniently’ hang it around their neck 24/7?

Truth to be told, no matter if they are ‘fugazi’ products or not, vapes are just not good for you!

Okay, okay, after all this negativity/ reality, let’s leave room for hope!  The big and amazing truth is that you can quit vaping!

The more of you lose interest in this ‘evo’ force, the weaker it will become, and the better it will be for all of us, the kids, and the planet!

Each ex-vaper makes a huge difference, and so does each non-vaper! You got that right. Even if you’ve never vaped, you can still take a stand against it — because vaping harms people and the environment, and supports child labor. 

For non-vapers, one of the most effective ways to contribute is by increasing awareness about the need for proper recycling. It starts with collecting used vapes in special disposal boxes, as they contain lithium-ion batteries, plastic, metal, and toxic liquids. Both vapers and non-vapers have welcomed these containers, which are currently available at a a few locations in Brooklyn!

Wherever you are, if you vape, please look into e-waste recycling in your area, and consider creating your own vapes disposal box. Believe it or not, that step can help you shake off this dependency. In fact, some New York vapers have admitted that seeing piles of disposable e-cigarettes finally opened their eyes to the reality. And of course, Smoking, Who? To Quit Smoking, Belittle Smoking offers tips for quitting both smoking and vaping.

Since that first drop-off on June 19th, 2022, a little over 500 pounds was diverted from landfills, and this grassroots operation is still ongoing, three years later, in 2025. 

What else can you do? While we wait for the day when e-cigarettes become undesirable, socially unacceptable — or even banned — please ask your local politicians to make vape collection boxes an official requirement in certain institutions. They are the ashtrays of the 2020s!

“No ash! No mess!” is not an accurate description of the impact vapes have on our environment. As shown at the end of the “We Are Atlas” video, 264 used vapes weighed 16.2 pounds. Now, consider this: 22.7 million disposable vapes are sold  in the U.S. each month — and most of them end up in landfills! Vapes don’t ‘only’ harm the bodies of the vapers — they also harm our beautiful planet!

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Vape disposal boxes make you think outside the box  — today you recycle your vapes, tomorrow you’ll want to recycle all your electronics!