this post was submitted on 05 Nov 2024
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Disposable vapes are indefensible. Many, or maybe most, of them contain rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, but manufacturers prefer to sell new ones.

To make a point about how wasteful this practice is—and to also make a pretty rad project and video—Chris Doel took 130 disposable vape batteries (the bigger "3,500 puff" types with model 20400 cells) found littered at a music festival and converted them into a 48-volt, 1,500-watt e-bike battery, one that powered an e-bike with almost no pedaling more than 20 miles. You can see the whole build and watch Doel zoom along trails on his YouTube video.

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[–] bluewing@lemm.ee 16 points 2 weeks ago (6 children)

Perhaps it's odd, but I have never seen anyone use a vape in public. Nor have I seen one just lying on the ground. I maybe need to get out the forest here and visit civilization for a bit again.

[–] normalexit@lemmy.world 15 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

They are super common where weed is legal. People fly into somewhere like Denver for the weekend to catch a show. Rather than buying a reusable battery, they will get a disposable vape (and probably some gummies).

Then it ends up in the landfill or as litter. I am in favor of making these one time use electronics illegal (along with single use plastics like balloons, plastic silverware, etc.. but that is another thread)

[–] TheGalacticVoid@lemm.ee 5 points 2 weeks ago

They aren't even disposable, so it's crazy to me how they can be sold as such.

[–] bluewing@lemm.ee 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Yeah, I live in legal weed state. The nearest dispensary is a mere 20 miles away. I'm not even sure they sell vapes. Flower and edibles for sure, but I have no idea if they sell vapes. (I've never been there-- weed just ain't my thing). But I still don't see any used ones tossed out. Maybe we are just neater people here and don't litter.

[–] SplashJackson@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Come to Canada, we have weed stores on every block, like Tim Hortons but actually beneficial to the people

[–] bluewing@lemm.ee 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I live closer to Winnipeg than I do to my state capital. We are often referred to as "Canada Lite" by other states.

[–] SplashJackson@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 weeks ago

Sounds like a win in my book!

[–] echodot@feddit.uk 12 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Go to a nightclub sometime. Discounted vapes in the outside areas are a tripping Hazard.

[–] EnderMB@lemmy.world 7 points 2 weeks ago

Gigs and concerts are pretty grim for this now too.

[–] Passerby6497@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

Discarded vapes? The only immediate trip hazard of tripping on discounted vapes would be the mob of people trying to buy them.

[–] bluewing@lemm.ee 2 points 2 weeks ago

Ain't no night clubs within 100 miles of me. Plenty of bars, but no night clubs.

[–] XeroxCool@lemmy.world 7 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Despite the larger size and bright colors, they're a bit more discreet than cigarettes. Most places that ban cigarettes equally ban vapes, so they're often concealed more. That probably has a spillover effect to areas they're allowed. They're only activated when sucked, so, unlike a cigarette that's burning whether you suck it or not, most people take a puff or 3 of vape and then go a few minutes without it. It's not as obvious as a person deliberately smoking one whole cigarette.

But maybe they're not around you. I think the other comments covered the locations well enough, sarcasm included. But if you suddenly smell something sweet like fruit or cereal, casually take a look for someone vaping

[–] bluewing@lemm.ee 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Oh I've seen pictures of them. Just haven't seen one in the real world nor seen one tossed on the ground. I do suspect they just aren't popular around me. Smokers around here probably prefer real cigarettes.

Eh, my coworker alternates between cigarettes and vape, and plenty of people vape or smoke in the parking lot here.

I've never seen a vape on the ground though, I think most at my office don't use disposable vapes.

[–] ayyy@sh.itjust.works 7 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

I guess you’ll have to start spending more time in high school bathrooms.

[–] bluewing@lemm.ee 1 points 2 weeks ago

I had that misfortune when I was teaching math at my local school for 4 years.

[–] jose1324@lemmy.world 7 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I mean, yeah. Have you ever been outside?

[–] bluewing@lemm.ee 2 points 2 weeks ago

I probably spend more time you side than you do. I just mostly do it in a forest.

[–] thedirtyknapkin@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

really? they're almost as common as cigarette butts once were now. are you a hermit?

[–] UltraGiGaGigantic@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 weeks ago

The basement has been good to me to.

[–] bluewing@lemm.ee 1 points 2 weeks ago

I wouldn't claim to be all that enamored of humans as a rule. But I'm not a hermit in the classic sense.

[–] sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

I've never seen a discarded vape, but I've seen a lot of people vaping, as well as a lot of cigarettes and butts. That said, I spend almost zero time downtown, so my exposure is mostly my work parking lot and a few stores.