Latest Oxford study: discarded disposable e-cigarettes are threatening the UK's water supply

A recent study from Oxford University warns that disposable e-cigarettes may pose an increasingly serious environmental threat. Scientists have found that even when discarded, the batteries in disposable e-cigarettes can be recycled hundreds of times.

This study was conducted by research teams from University College London (UCL) and Oxford University, supported by the Faraday Institute.

“What surprised us was how long these batteries could potentially last,” said Professor Paul Shearing from Oxford University and UCL in a press release. “If you use low charge and discharge rates, you will find that after more than 700 cycles, they still retain over 90% of their capacity. In fact, this is quite a good battery. And these batteries are just being discarded; they are thrown on the roadside.”

Since 2021, the popularity of disposable e-cigarettes in the UK has surged dramatically. A survey indicated that from January 2021 to April 2022, usage increased 18-fold, with the usage rate among individuals under 18 rising from 0.4% to 54.8% in just 15 months. This surge has led to urgent waste management issues, with approximately 1.3 million devices being discarded weekly in the UK.

As a result, around 10,000 kilograms (over 22,000 pounds) of lithium from e-cigarette batteries ends up in UK landfills each year. This poses a significant environmental hazard, as toxic nickel, cobalt, and organic solvents could potentially contaminate nearby water sources.