Getting a flat tire is incredibly frustrating, especially when it’s caused by someone else’s junk.
A driver was having a very bad day when a discarded disposable vaporizer punctured his tire and flattened him. The Redditor posted a photo of the crumpled vape that caused the damage to the r/Anticonsumption subreddit.
This all-too-common experience sparks debate in the US and abroad.
The post’s Reddit users took offense at the wastefulness of single-use vapes and their ability to cause damage to vehicles and the environment. One commenter wrote: “I see these things lying in streets and yards all the time,” while many called for a ban on single-use products.
“Skipping out on buying single-use pods and instead buying large juice bottles is a lot cheaper in the long run. The cheapest option is also the most environmentally friendly. There is no excuse for how wasteful most vapers are,” wrote one commenter.
Another agreed: “It’s significant [sic] cheaper and so much better for the world.”
Harmful litter on the streets is not only bad for the environment, it can also be inconvenient and expensive, and the problem is only getting worse. Not only does it look bad, but junk and debris can cause collisions and skyrocket cleanup costs.
According to AP News, trash removal costs Illinois taxpayers an average of $6 million a year. In North Carolina, the cost of clearing up roadside garbage has delayed several transportation projects, reports WRAL News.
Sharp metals aren’t the only danger posed by disposable vaporizers. More and more motorists are reportedly going to the garage for burned or damaged tires caused by discarded e-cigarettes. The Scottish Sun explained: “Disposable vapes burn rubber because of the lithium they contain.”
The lithium batteries in thoughtlessly discarded e-cigarettes can be dangerous because the coveted metal “is defined as hazardous waste because of its toxic nature and its propensity to catch fire if damaged,” the Bureau of Investigative Journalism said.
The story goes on
On Reddit, one commenter wrote, “I’m a little surprised you were able to drive over it without it going supernova.”
One angry Reddit user summed up the argument by saying, “Can you please just throw them away…it’s not hard.”
Subscribe to our free newsletter for cool news And cool tips that makes it easy help yourself while helping the planet.