Coastal Waste Authority Recovers 100 Kilos of Disposable Vapes Monthly A manual recycling project across western Costa del Sol municipalities tackles toxic lithium and microplastic hazards from discarded electronic cigarettes. A specialised recovery operation across the western coastal strip is now intercepting roughly 100 kilos of disposable vapes per month, turning up a hidden environmental threat on the shorelines. Waste concessionaire Urbaser, operating on behalf of the western commonwealth of municipalities, has introduced manual separation processes to neutralise the toxic fire and pollution hazards caused by discarded electronic devices. Lithium and plastic hazards on the beach The surge in single-use vaping devices has created a severe municipal processing headache. Despite clear local disposal regulations, thousands of brightly coloured plastic casings end up in household bins, on beach promenades, or washed into storm drains. Each unit contains a miniature lithium-ion battery, copper circuitry and chemical residue that pose direct combustion risks inside conventional waste compactor trucks and sorting plants. Technicians at regional recycling facilities must individually disarm and segregate each collected device by hand. The process separates flammable lithium cells, residual plastic frames and metal components to prevent groundwater contamination and spontaneous depot fires, which spike during hot and dry spells. Municipal push for cleaner public spaces Coastal town halls from Torremolinos to Manilva are intensifying awareness campaigns along seafront boulevards, installing dedicated battery and electronics collection receptacles at major public transit nodes and municipal recycling points. Environmental inspectors caution that when these devices are discarded on natural sand or rocky coves, the plastic degrades into hazardous microparticles while batteries corrode under saltwater exposure. Local environmental departments are urging residents and autumn holidaymakers to treat spent e-cigarettes as hazardous electrical waste rather than casual litter. With tourist throughput still robust across the coastline, waste operators warn that without proactive public disposal habits, the volume of toxic e-waste retrieved from municipal sweeps will continue to rise.