In observance of World Health Day on April 7, two civil society groups—Action on Smoking and Health Philippines (ASH Philippines) and the EcoWaste Coalition—have jointly called for an upstream solution to address the mounting waste generated by cigarettes and electronic smoking devices (ESDs).

The organizations are advocating for a phase-out of tobacco products, including traditional cigarettes and ESDs such as e-cigarettes or vapes, heated tobacco products (HTPs), and other similar devices. These products not only harm health but also contribute to environmental degradation through non-recyclable and toxic waste.

“The only real solution is prevention,” said Dr. Maricar Limpin, Executive Director of ASH Philippines. “We must stop these harmful, addictive, and unnecessary products from being produced, marketed, and used. This is essential for both public health and the environment, especially as we face global crises like climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.”

The groups stressed that cigarette butts, heat sticks, and used vape products are nearly impossible to collect and recycle. Even when these items are recovered, their toxic composition makes safe recycling impractical. Discarded ESDs, for example, contain batteries, circuit boards, and heating elements that can leak chemicals, explode, or cause fires—a challenge even schools face when disposing of confiscated devices.

“Cigarettes and ESDs pose serious environmental threats,” said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition. “Much like single-use plastics, they end up in landfills, waterways, and oceans—persisting for years and releasing toxins. We need a comprehensive phase-out plan, along with support for affected industries to transition into safer, more sustainable livelihoods.”

Despite attempts to manage tobacco-related waste through collection and disposal programs, the groups noted that none have succeeded. Trillions of cigarette butts and billions of vape products are discarded every year, far outpacing any clean-up efforts. Worse, there is no safe disposal method for these toxic items, which should never be mixed with ordinary household waste.

The groups concluded that eliminating the source of the problem is the only viable path forward: banning the production and sale of these harmful products to safeguard both human health and the planet.