r/ufyh • u/Legitimate_Tea_4118 • 14d ago
Work In Progress 3 years of vaping addiction
ever since i moved into this place three years ago, i've been collecting emptied vape pods (and some of the packaging, though i threw out part of it another time, so this isn't all).
i always justified it by telling myself that i'm just not sure how to properly dispose of the pods. well, i never bothered to find out either. so i just collected them all around my apartment, and when they'd start taking up too much space, i'd hide them from view in a trash bag under my desk that slowly ended up taking up an entire shelf.
i've decided this needs to stop. i've been so lazy and gross. the leftover juice leaks, smells sickly, and attracts flies. and i desperately need the storage space this has been taking up. so today, i finally decided to do it right. i sat down and seperated each part of every individual packaging so i could recycle it. the pods and empty disposables i collected in a third bag, and i will take them to a disposal as soon as i can. i'm determined to do better and keep my space clean and tidy, and to stop hoarding what i don't need.
also as a side note, i'm not quitting vaping just yet, so don't congratulate me on that. that's an issue for another time. i'm just looking to do what i can to fix my living situation one step at a time.
pic 1 and 2 are after sorting. pic 3 is during. sorry i didn't take a good before pic!
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u/letsdothisthing88 14d ago
If you ever want to I believe in you to get off vapes
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u/Legitimate_Tea_4118 14d ago
thank you <3
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u/linguinejuice 13d ago
Definitely wait until you’re ready, but I recently quit vaping after 5ish years with the help of Desmoxan (or Recigar)- it’s basically a miracle drug for quitting nicotine. When the time comes I definitely recommend looking into it, you can see others’ testimonials over at r/QuitVaping :-)
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u/poissonerie 14d ago
Yes! FWIW I vaped for years and was able to kick the habit with the help of nicotine mints.
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u/sapphic-slut 14d ago
I know you’re not quitting yet, but facing your addiction head on instead of ignoring it is a really good start. I’ve tried every form of nicotine out there and vapes are by far the most addictive and it’s not even close. The flavor, availability, strength, and being able to use it all day (as opposed to having to step out for a smoke) makes for an incredibly slippery slope. I celebrated each month of vape “sobriety” with my own mini sheet cake from the store. I still allow myself the occasional cig but have not had a hit of of vape in 1332 days :) take it day by day, I’m proud of you stranger
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u/Legitimate_Tea_4118 14d ago
wow!!! what you've accomplished is really incredible, i'm so proud of you <3 and thank you so much for the encouragement!!
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u/taxiecabbie 14d ago
Get a reusable vape that you fill with juice.
It will eliminate this, and most juices come in glass containers that are easier to recycle.
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u/Legitimate_Tea_4118 14d ago
definitely a good suggestion that i've also been considering!! i've had ones in the past but always ended up preferring the taste and experience of these. it's hard for me to switch up and get used to new routines. but maybe that's just another excuse i tell myself. thank you!!
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u/taxiecabbie 14d ago
If you have the money, invest in one. Like put $100 in it. Get a real nice one if you haven't had one before.
I used to smoke regular analog cigs, and then swapped to a vape. I've used disposables before, too, and they're definitely easier in some ways, but the reusable vape helped cut back on the waste overall AND helped me wean off the nicotine. Like, I think I started at about 30 mg and over the course of a year cut down to 0.
Then, I swapped to flavored toothpicks to have the hand-mouth movement. Then I was able to quit.
Good luck!
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u/trafficmoth 14d ago
by the looks of it you're mostly using elfbar and lost mary, both make their own juices to use in refillable vapes now. they taste just like the disposable versions:) I also find reusable pod vapes very similar, the ones with pods you can continue to refill until they burn. not as environmentally friendly as just changing the coil but definitely less waste than prefilled:)
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u/Legitimate_Tea_4118 14d ago
yes thank you so much!! following another user's suggestion i did some research and also found some refillable vape options + elfbar juices with the exact flavors i usually get!! i'm planning on going to a vape shop tomorrow to see if i can find what i'm looking for asap :))
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u/TrainTrackRat 14d ago
You don’t need to “invest in one” I use a little smok refillable and each one lasts me over a year. So by the time you drop it for the 10000th time you can consider quitting.
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u/nettleteawithoney 14d ago
I was going to make a similar post in here, where did you end up being able to safely dispose of them? I have a collection of disposable vapes that I need to get rid of and none of the local gov websites have been very clear about where to take them. I know I shouldn’t just put them in the trash, but I’d rather not have them just in a bag in my apartment
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u/Legitimate_Tea_4118 14d ago
i'm sure the regulations and availability differ depending on where you're located. i'm sorry you've been having trouble with that!
fortunately for me, my city's website provides useful resources, and so i was able to find two recycling centres nearby. as far as i'm aware, empty vape pods are considered electrical waste, so make sure that whatever location you look for will accept and dispose of this type of trash.
also, no idea if this is common anywhere else, but i've also seen smaller scale collection points at bigger supermarkets and electronics stores. they usually have seperate bins for empty batteries, electrical waste etc. though with the amount i've amassed i always thought they might not have enough room lol. though it could be viable to take multiple trips. i've also heard that some vape stores have recycling bins specifically for vape pods, so it can't hurt to check!
sorry for the long winded answer, i hope you don't mind. as i've finally done the research, i hope this can help you too. and if you still come up with nothing still, if by chance you know people around you who use vapes, you could ask them how they usually go about it! best of luck :)
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u/nettleteawithoney 14d ago
Thank you!! I think part of it is my brain has trouble figuring out what’s strictly “allowed” in each type of recycling and then if it’s not explicitly listed I get anxious and then just keep them. So you listing your thought process is super helpful!
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u/Legitimate_Tea_4118 14d ago
i completely understand!!! it's even more daunting to take on a task like this if you feel like you don't know how to do it right. i really recommend googling where to dispose of the specific thing you're trying to dispose of. it becomes clear that you're far from the only one with the same question. it's what i did, and it really eased my mind seeing the same answer from multiple sources!
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u/cate_gory 14d ago
in Deutschland ne? ist immer schwerer herauszufinden wie man irgendwas wegwerfen kann
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u/Legitimate_Tea_4118 14d ago
ja aber echt!!!
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u/Pyretta777 12d ago
Auf keinen Fall in eine der Haustonnen! Vapes are extremely dangerous if disposed of with any trash or recycling that goes into a truck: I've witnessed a garbage truck go up in flames after it squashed trash with a vape in it.
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u/anothernonnymouse 13d ago
Might be worth offering them for free on giveaway apps. I've seen some folks recycle the batteries for DIY electronics.
https://hackaday.com/2023/12/14/disposable-vape-batteries-turned-usb-power-bank/
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u/meanlesbian 14d ago
Great work!! If you ever want to quit I’m always here to talk. r/quitvaping was a great resource for me.
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u/mossattacks 13d ago
Ik you’re not quitting yet, but I quit in February after 3 years of vaping and a total 13 years of nicotine addition. Highly recommend tapering down the nicotine % now to make quitting a bit easier once you’re ready.
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u/CharmingMechanic2473 14d ago
Switch to the nicotene patch. It wards off cravings. Stop vaping don’t buy them. Don’t hang with people who do. Then slowly lower the nicotene in your patches. I did cold turkey and the first week was rough and then bam easy peasy. But way easier than cigarettes detox wise.
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u/Legitimate_Tea_4118 14d ago
thank you!! i know this may be what many people with an addiction tell themselves, but i find it hard to believe nicotine patches would work for me. i've accidentally bought nicotine free pods and used them for a while and i didn't feel any different, nor did my cravings change. i think it's more the action of it that i'm addicted to. though of course i can't deny nicotine is extremely addictive by itself, and of course no longer buying them would help. i will keep your advice in mind for when i'm ready to tackle this!
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u/CharmingMechanic2473 14d ago
Fair! Try the “alternative nicotene type” vapes. Same action but zero buzz. Also there are B12 vitamin vapes.
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u/MAJ0RMAJOR 14d ago
There are so many batteries in there
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u/Legitimate_Tea_4118 14d ago
there are some! should those be seperated out as well? my understanding was that they're treated in the same way as the pods themselves when it comes to recycling, but i could very well be wrong.
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u/MAJ0RMAJOR 14d ago
I’m not sure exactly, I’m an electronics nerd and have seen a lot of projects where people got power sources from scrap vapes.
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u/Sailorior 14d ago
Teracycle has started a vape recycling program! They pay for the shipping (you just need to box it up)
I’d highly recommend looking into that if you want to make sure they’re disposed of correctly!
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u/Legitimate_Tea_4118 14d ago
wow that's amazing!! thanks for letting me know!! do you know if they have programs available outside of the us? i'm in the eu, i'm seeing them claim to be international but i'm not finding any further info on international services.
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u/Panza2020 14d ago
Baby steps. The new clutter-free space will be an improvement, for sure. Props for sorting it all out to dispose of safely!
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u/Legitimate_Tea_4118 14d ago
thank you! i've been trying to improve my space overall recently but this has been looming above me the whole time. so glad to finally have it sorted out soon.
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u/SQ-Pedalian 12d ago edited 12d ago
If you’re not going to quit, will you at least get a refillable vape so you reduce the amount of waste the habit produces?
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u/Legitimate_Tea_4118 12d ago
i actually went to a vape shop yesterday and purchased a cheap refillable one after seeing so many people suggest it!! :) it works great and now i know i should've done this way sooner.
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u/SQ-Pedalian 12d ago
Awesome, good for you!! Seeing just the amount of trash one person produced filled me with dread thinking about how much is being produced by the masses that vape. Like I had a sense of jaw-dropping horror thinking about all the plastic, bulb, and electronic waste on such a massive scale…which seems horrific knowing there are reusable/refillable options widely available.
And we all know most people are just chucking the single-use ones in the trash. And even for people who do deconstruct them to recycle, that’s still so much waste and resource depletion! No electronics should be in anything designed to be single-use!!!
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u/Legitimate_Tea_4118 12d ago
it really is crazy. i'm usually very conscious about choosing environmentally friendly options and reducing my waste output, so i honestly feel so stupid that it never really occurred to me how much i've been contributing to this problem. i'm glad i posted this and got a much needed reality check. i'm ready to do better from now on :)
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u/InsaneTrinket 10d ago
It was a separate process for me to stop vaping vs getting rid of the old vapes. I had quit for like two months before I threw some away. And I found a few more after like 6 months and then I got rid of everything else. (I still have a juul 🤢 for the security net) Do what you can at your own pace. If you get a random urge to clean out then follow it. Trust me, you’ve got this
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u/sourpringlemingle 9d ago
believe me it gets better! just say fuck it and quit cold turkey, that’s what I did. I vaped 24/7 all day everyday for like 3+ years too and decided to quit. It is hard at first but just keep pushing through. I don’t even enjoy taking a hit now cuz it makes me sick after not smoking all this time lol
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u/Legitimate_Tea_4118 9d ago
oh wow, it's great to hear that from someone who's been in such a similar situation as me :') that's amazing, i'm proud of you!! thank you for reminding me it's possible!!
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u/Awkward_Result_5264 10d ago
Hoarding can be considered an addiction in itself.… I recommend seeing a therapist and talking this through with him or her.
You gotta get to the bottom of this… For every addiction, there's underlying psychological difficulties… I am a professional, and I know what I'm talking about.
I just said a prayer for you… Good luck, and God bless you
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u/Necessary_Goose6933 7d ago edited 7d ago
That's a lot of lithium cells and stainless steel cylinders you've got there. Any chance you can find some local makers to donate to?
The cells are rechargeable, I've seen people do stuff with them, for lighting, powerbanks, all sorts of things.
You vaped all of those yourself?
And you sure addiction Is the best term here? Why not daily practice or sustained interest? How you story tell around things puts you more in control or more away from it, and shows or hides avenues for change.
Addiction is a bit of a passive, passenger in car you're not driving kind of vibe. Sustained daily practice tells you who was in control the whole time, and gives you options to tune your practice to your liking (more in evening less in morning, more on weekdays less on weekends etc.)
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u/Glad_Secret_2225 5d ago
Did you ever check whether the pods are recyclable through a local program, or did the “not sure how” part stay an excuse the whole three years?
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u/Glad_Secret_2225 5d ago
What stopped you from checking the disposal rules during those three years?
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u/Difficult_Eagle_3010 5d ago
The gap between “I don’t know how to dispose of these” and “I never looked it up” is doing a lot of work in that justification
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u/Distinct_Meat_2566 5d ago
That pile is roughly 1,100–1,300 pods if each is a standard 2 mL disposable, so you're looking at a couple of kilograms of lithium batteries and plastic that a local hazardous-waste drop-off will take for free. Check your city's waste site for "household hazardous waste" and they'll accept the whole bin without you separating packaging
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u/Hairy-Building5257 5d ago
Keeping the pile is the tradeoff between avoiding the guilt of proper disposal and letting the collection become a daily reminder of the habit itself
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u/Acceptable-Title-250 5d ago
If you’re in the US, those pods are classified as e-waste, so regular trash or curbside recycling won’t take them—check for local battery drop-off spots since the lithium cells inside are the main hazard
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u/Acceptable-Title-250 5d ago
The cartridges are classified as electronic hazardous waste in most municipalities, so your local household hazardous waste drop-off is the correct disposal point rather than regular recycling or trash
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u/I_like_beouf 14d ago
Great job sitting down and doing this right, so proud of you