E-Cigarettes Put in Garbage Cart/Bin E-Liquid Is Hazardous Waste E-liquid contains liquid nicotine, which is a harsh chemical and hazardous waste. If you have leftover e-liquid, do not pour it down the drain. Dispose of it as hazardous waste. Batteries, Chargers and Atomizers Are E-Waste The batteries, chargers and atomizers of e-cigarettes contain nonrenewable metals and chemicals that are toxic to landfills, so recycle them as e-waste. Find out how to properly dispose of e-waste. Clean Cartridge Before Tossing Cartridges contain traces of nicotine, so they must be disposed of carefully. Remove the cartridge filler, rinse it in water, and wrap it in something biodegradable. Then rinse the cartridge and plug it with the original plug. Throw both in the trash. Ways to Reduce Refill Cartridges Yourself Instead of using disposable cartridges, use refillable cartridges or an e-cig tank so that you create less waste. Be sure to follow product instructions and wear gloves when handling liquid nicotine. Did You Know? Are E-Cigarettes More Eco-Friendly? Many e-cigarette manufacturers claim their product is an environmental solution to traditional cigarettes, because e-cigarettes can be reused and certain parts can be recycled. But are they really better? It’s not yet clear, but e-cigarettes introduce new problems with pollution in their manufacturing and disposal. Read more from Recycle Nation and the National Center for Biotechnology Information.