WED-061 - From Confiscation to Disposal: Addressing Vape Waste in Denver School Systems

Brief Abstract Summary: Discover an innovative program piloted by the City and County of Denver’s Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE) and Denver Public Schools (DPS) that simultaneously addresses hazardous vape waste and youth health. This initiative empowers schools to safely collect and dispose of confiscated vape products while shifting discipline from punitive suspensions to restorative education. Attendees will learn how the program was designed and implemented, why it matters for both environmental health and student well-being, and what data reveal about its early success. We will explore the types of waste found in vape products, the harms of nicotine on youth development, program successes and barriers, and how this model can be scaled and replicated in other communities seeking to reduce vaping and promote healthier outcomes for young people.

Detailed abstract description: Learn how Denver is implementing strategies to reduce acute hazardous waste entering landfills while providing schools with powerful tools to address youth vaping through education rather than punishment. Over the past two years, the City and County of Denver’s Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE), in partnership with Denver Public Schools (DPS), has worked to answer an urgent question from educators: what should be done with confiscated vape devices? In response, DDPHE developed a comprehensive vape disposal program that not only addresses safe waste management but also reframes how schools respond to students caught vaping.

Through this program, five pilot schools began collecting confiscated vape products, logging them into a centralized system, and arranging monthly pickups with a certified waste disposal company. Importantly, these schools coupled product disposal with restorative approaches; educating students on the risks of nicotine and connecting them with cessation resources, shifting discipline from suspension to education. This two-pronged model protects the environment and enhances student health outcomes at the same time.

In this session, attendees will:
- Recognize why vape disposal matters for both school safety and environmental health.
- Learn about the hazardous by-products found in vape devices, including lithium batteries and residual nicotine.
- Discover nicotine’s detrimental effects on adolescent brain development and overall health.
- Hear how the program was developed, including barriers faced and strategies for success.
- See data collected from the pilot, including the number and types of products disposed of, and how this information may guide future policy and practice.
- Understand our plans for expansion to more schools and communities in the coming years.
- Gain actionable insights for designing a vape disposal and restorative education program in their own community.

Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how a local health department and school district collaborated to innovate at the intersection of public health, environmental safety, and education. They will take away practical strategies for building cross-sector partnerships, engaging schools, managing hazardous waste, and reframing student discipline in ways that both reduce vaping and support young people’s long-term health.
This presentation will be valuable to public health professionals, educators, environmental health practitioners, and policymakers interested in addressing youth vaping and waste management in a holistic and scalable way.