Information  /  Environment

Smoking and vaping affect more than personal health. Tobacco growing and manufacturing use land, water and energy, cigarette filters create plastic pollution, and discarded vapes add batteries, plastics and electronic waste.

Wales evidence: Public Health Wales’ 2026 cost model estimates the environmental costs associated with smoking in Wales at £241.2 million a year. This is a modelled estimate rather than observed spending, and depends on the assumptions used in the economic model. Public Health Wales source ↗

Last reviewed: 25th September 2026

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Most cigarette filters are made from cellulose acetate, a plastic material that breaks down slowly and can release microplastic fibres and chemicals into the environment. Vapes create a different waste problem through plastic casings, electronics, batteries and leftover liquid.

The environmental impact starts long before a cigarette is lit. Tobacco cultivation can contribute to deforestation, water use, soil damage and pesticide pollution. Manufacturing, packaging and transport add further resource use and emissions.

At the other end of the chain, discarded cigarette filters are one of the most common forms of tobacco waste. Filters can remain in the environment for years and break down into smaller plastic fibres rather than simply disappearing.

A cigarette butt contains the used filter plus residues from tobacco smoke. When littered, it can release nicotine and other contaminants into soil and water. The plastic fibres in filters can fragment into microplastics.

This is why cigarette litter is an environmental issue rather than just an appearance problem.

Vapes do not create cigarette filters, but they still have an environmental footprint. Devices can contain plastic, metal, electronics, a battery and leftover e-liquid. When they are thrown away incorrectly, those materials can enter general waste or the environment and batteries can create fire risks in waste systems.

Reusable devices reduce some of the waste created by single-use products, but they still need responsible disposal and recycling at the end of their life.

Smoke-free environments can reduce exposure to second-hand smoke, reduce smoking-related litter and help make smoking less visible as an everyday activity. ASH Wales has supported voluntary smoke-free outdoor spaces in Wales alongside wider work to make smoking less normal for future generations.

Explore our Smoke-Free Environments work

• Never drop cigarette butts on the ground or into drains.
• Dispose of smoking waste safely and make sure it is fully extinguished.
• Keep vapes and e-liquid away from children and pets.
• Take unwanted or used vape devices to an appropriate battery or electrical recycling point where available.
• If you smoke and want to stop, free NHS support is available in Wales.

• WHO FCTC: tobacco and environmental pollution
• ASH: Tobacco and the Environment

ASH Wales has further education materials on smoking and the environment in our resource library.

Browse ASH Wales resources