Criticism and Potential Ban of Disposables

Recently, according to German media n-tv, disposable e-cigarettes are facing severe criticism due to the increasing environmental and safety risks associated with them. France has already planned to ban their sale by the end of this year, and Germany's Minister for the Environment, Steffi Lemke, also supports this measure. She hopes for a comprehensive ban on disposable e-cigarettes within the European Union. However, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party in Germany opposes a complete ban.

Laimkes seeks to advocate for a ban on disposable e-cigarettes within the European Union. She told the "Central German Newspaper" that disposable e-cigarettes are causing pollution to the environment as they are often thrown into household waste instead of being disposed of properly according to the regulations of electronic devices.

She further pointed out that in waste management facilities, "they could potentially cause serious issues by triggering fires.

Disposable e-cigarettes are powered by non-rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. Improper storage and handling of these devices can lead to short circuits and fires, particularly when disposed of in garbage trucks or waste treatment facilities. Additionally, throwing these e-cigarettes into household trash results in the loss of valuable battery components that cannot be recycled or reused.

Tino Sörg, a federal parliamentarian from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Germany, expressed to the newspaper:

I approach the proposed sweeping ban with caution. In safeguarding teenagers from the harm caused by e-cigarettes, it is necessary for us to meticulously examine the situation.

He believes that e-cigarette advertisements may specifically target young people.

In April 2023, a group of doctors, tobacco experts, and environmentalists are calling on France to urgently ban disposable e-cigarettes in interviews with the media. These e-cigarettes were first introduced to the market in 2021. Even French Prime Minister Elizabeth Borne, who openly admits to using e-cigarettes, expressed concerns during an interview with RTL radio in early September. Borne believes that tobacco products cause 75,000 deaths each year, which is a staggering number. Therefore, she announced plans to ban the sale of disposable e-cigarettes.