HB1096

I support HB 1096 because vape and e-cigarette waste poses real environmental and public-health challenges, and a study committee is an appropriate first step toward responsible disposal solutions. Understanding the scope of the problem will help New Hampshire protect its communities and reduce hazardous waste.

Support for HB 1096 - AN ACT establishing a committee to study ways to manage disposal of vapes and e-cigarettes. Dear Honorable Members of the House Environment and Agriculture Committee, Hello, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Donald Tebaldi, and I serve as a Recycler/Household Hazardous Waste Coordinator for the City of Keene. With over 24 years of experience in the waste management field, including more than 16 years with the City of Keene, I hold a degree in Environmental & Occupational Safety Technology and numerous certifications. My specialty lies in hazardous waste management. I strongly support this bill because the improper disposal of vapes and e-cigarette devices presents real safety, environmental, and regulatory problems that our current waste management systems are not fully equipped to handle. Most vaping devices, whether disposable or rechargeable contain lithium-ion batteries, which are prone to dangerous reactions if they are crushed, punctured, or mixed into regular trash or recycling streams. When lithium-ion batteries are compromised, they can enter thermal runaway, a chain reaction that can lead to intense fires and explosions. These incidents put waste haulers, transfer station employees, firefighters, and the public at risk, and can cause significant damage to equipment and facilities. Cartridges and pods used in vapes often contain residual nicotine and other chemicals. Nicotine is classified as an EPA RCRA acute hazardous waste, and if improperly discarded, can leach into soil and water or pose exposure risks for sanitation workers and wildlife. Vapes and e-cigarettes are not like simple household trash. They combine battery technology, plastics, metals, and liquid chemicals in a single product. As a result, they often fall between regulatory categories, not fully covered by typical electronics recycling programs, hazardous waste disposal (most household hazardous collections do NOT accept them), or battery-only collection systems. Clear policies and guidance for municipalities and residents are currently lacking. In other areas of waste management, New Hampshire has already taken steps to reduce risks. For example, banning the disposal of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and other electronics in landfills and incinerators as of July 2025, due to the fire hazard they pose. HB 1096 builds on that progress by addressing the specific challenges posed by vaping devices, which often bypass those existing categories. Conclusion For all of these reasons, safety, and regulatory clarity, I respectfully urge the Environment and Agriculture Committee to recommend HB 1096 Ought to Pass, and to give this Legislative Study Committee the time and support it needs to identify responsible, long-term solutions for the disposal of vapes and e-cigarettes in New Hampshire. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Donald M. Tebaldi Keene, New Hampshire

Every community needs this to be addressed.