ASTRO NOMICAL

After a report found the damming figure of disposable waste in the US, alarm bells rang for many vaping advocates…with cigarette waste being complete overlooked.

Words: Oliver Smith

Many brands are now trying to combat the issue with waste collection schemes for the devices or creating packing that is fully recyclable

But even with the industry trying to change for the better, we are still hit we yet another bashing

A new report commissioned by the United States’ Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) detailed the alarming rate at which disposable e-cigarettes were being discarded.

It estimates that each month in the US alone, vaping customers purchase and consume 11.9 million disposable e-cigarettes.

Based on that figure in the new report by the US PIRG Education Fund, the waste from disposable vapes sold annually would stretch longer than 7,000 miles if lined up, more than twice the width of the country.

A worrying statistic for many caught up in the panic of the nation’s current waste issues.

However, what the US PIRG forgot to mention was that the waste from discarded cigarette filters is undeniably more of a cause for concern.

Around 267 billion cigarettes are smoked in the US each year, a monumental difference to the 11.9 million discarded e-cigarettes.

If you then take into consideration that the standard cigarette size is around 70 millimetres, with the discarded filter taking up 20 millimetres of its total length.

So, with 267 billion cigarettes consumed in the US alone each year, it would measure just over 3.3 million miles of discarded cigarette filters.

To put that level of waste into perspective, that’s enough distance to travel to the moon and back seven times!

With that damming figure, one can’t help think of the glaring hypocrisy of policy makers and waste advocates completely overlooking the detrimental impact cigarettes are having.

Of course, the vaping industry is currently facing many sustainability problems, however, in recent months brands and regulators have been exploring many techniques to help curb this problem.

John Dunne, Director General of the UK Vaping Industry Association, said: “The industry realises that much more must be done to safeguard against their impact on the environment.

“The fact is that disposables have been around for a while but have become hugely popular in the last couple of years, particularly with those on low incomes who are amongst the most prevalent smokers.”

After an anti-vaping cloud sculpture was unveiled to the Australian public, Vapouround explores everything from smear campaigns to crackdowns in the dystopian land of Aus.

Words: Grace Lynk

In a not so shocking turn of events, Quit Victoria and VicHealth have partnered with Museums Victoria to unveil a new sculpture designed to visually represent chemicals ‘supposedly’ found in vaping devices.

The sculpture, recently revealed at Scienceworks, is yet another ploy to feed Australia’s brutal agenda against vaping, essentially scaremongering their citizens into fearing a cessation tool that helps millions.

Taking the form of a ‘vape cloud’ and demonstrating labels of so-called toxic chemicals, it is increasingly apparent that the government’s drive to eliminate e-cigarettes from the face of their country is resolute.

Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said:

“We’re proud to be launching this installation to raise awareness and drive crucial change around the troubling use of e-cigarettes gripping young Victorians.”

The exhibit is just another tactic to besmirch vaping following the reforms proposed by the Australian government which will see disposables banned and a major crackdown on imported non-prescription products.

Of course, the responses from the public have been overwhelmingly negative on Twitter, with Australian natives flocking to the platform to express their distaste for the prohibition strategies.

One user, Capt. Cumulus (Fleetpoet), said: “This is clearly the opposite of what more than 8000 studies from the last 15 years show. Next week, you present the proud installation of a flat earth?”

BakerB (bakerbee1) took an angrier approach to the installation, voicing the frustration of thousands of Australians who are vastly losing patience with their government creating needless mass anxiety.

The user said: “You have lost all credibility with your lies and exaggerations and now the archaic ‘chapman trick’ you are using to kill smokers by putting them off switching to a vastly safer alternative.”

If the vape cloud sculpture wasn’t enough to get vapers in Australia angry, the casting calls for people with disabilities to come forward and tell vaping horror stories might do the trick.

An undisclosed company have started an online casting call where members of the public can speak their mind on the vaping conundrum, but only if their stories are negative.

Lucky Break Creative on Facebook, who are advertising the casting call for the company, claim to specialise in connecting people from the community with opportunities in the spotlight.

In this case, the alleged opportunity feels more like the exploitation of minority groups with a money incentive of 3000 dangling over the heads of members of the public.

In response, ASACA (The Australian Smokefree Alternatives Consumer Association) said: “Journalism doesn’t cast. Science doesn’t cast. Fiction does. Do you really think the offer of cash doesn’t encourage people to lie?”

Having to resort to casting calls and bribes to curate a negative opinion on e-cigarettes undermines those who are willing to speak about the positive effects vaping has had on their lives for free.

The Australian government is doubling down on their agenda against vaping due to the unregulated and illegal markets flourishing nationwide as a direct result of their implemented ban.

The intent to fuel a black market will ensure that consumers will be less aware of the quality and purity of the products they purchase, exacerbating the dangers of vaping in Australia.

In an attempt to curb these black-market sales, Health Compliance Officers have recently seized 17,000 vapes with an estimated worth of one million headed towards Perth from New South Wales.

With authorities intercepting the delivery before it could reach its destination, it has now been recognised as the largest vaping-related seizure in the history of Western Australia.

This crackdown, along with others, means that Australian citizens should expect an outpouring in prohibition-related crime, with taxpayers funding new embargos by expanding law enforcement and controlling illicit e-cigarette trade.

The World Vapers’ Alliance said: “Vaping in Australia has been a harrowing and unpredictable rollercoaster ride…bullied and terrorised by successive Health Ministers, many vapers feel like collateral damage in an ideological war.”

Thankfully, it’s not all bad news, with many companies and individuals fighting back against the changes being made against the will of thousands of Australians relying on vapes to quit smoking.

In particular, the Vaping Association of Australia is calling on Parliament to follow the plans of New Zealand and the United Kingdom in their efforts to sensibly regulate vaping.

Colin Mendelsohn, serial vaping promoter and self-appointed ‘politician pesterer’ said: “This will provide a safer alternative for adult smokers, replace the black market run by criminal gangs and reduce access for young people.”

“The prescription model has failed and can’t be resuscitated.”