How do Danish youth get rid of disposable vapes: Prevalences and associated factors

• Most DV users dispose empty disposable vapes (DVs) irresponsibly • Irresponsible DV disposal is linked to younger age and attending lower education • Approx. 0.5-1.8 million DVs are disposed irresponsibly yearly among Danish youth • We suggest raising awareness and labelling DVs with proper disposal instructions The rising use of disposable vapes (DVs) among youth has introduced new environmental concerns due to irresponsible disposal. Despite their classification as electronic and hazardous waste, little is known about the amount of incorrectly disposed DVs. This study examined disposal practices of DVs among Danish youth, characteristics associated with irresponsible disposal practices and estimated the annual number of irresponsibly discarded DVs. We included current DV users (n=716) from the 2024 §SMOKE survey, a nationally representative cross sectional survey of Danish youth aged 15-29. Disposal practices were categorized as responsible (electronic/dangerous waste, returning to retailer), irresponsible (regular trash, thrown on the ground) or other. Chi-squared tests and logistic regressions were used to assess differences across demographic and behavioral factors regarding irresponsible disposal practices. Number of DVs disposed among youth in Denmark was estimated based on average puffs per month and assumptions of vape capacity (600 puffs/2500 puffs). Over half (55.7%) of youth using DVs reported irresponsible disposal, while only 25.0% practiced responsible disposal. Irresponsible disposal was associated with age (15–17-year-olds vs. 18–24-year-olds (OR: 1.95)) and educational occupation (currently attending vs completed short-cycle or lower education (OR: 2.06)). Estimates indicate that between half a million and 1.8 million DVs are discarded irresponsibly in Denmark per year, including up to 135,000 vapes thrown on the ground. A worrying high percentage of Danish youth dispose DVs in ways that harms the environment. Future strategies should target adolescents and educational institutions in increasing awareness, clearer labeling, and accessible drop-off-sites for DVs.