Single picture reveals shocking extent of Australia’s vaping habit: ‘Putrid animals’

A photo of a highway roadside littered with disposable vapes has sparked outrage, with some calling it an example of the “worst of humanity.”

The photo posted to social media site Reddit shows the fumes spread across a barrier on Melbourne’s West Gate Freeway.

‘Is there anyone else who sees this regularly? People are throwing used (I assume) fumes at the junction of Westgate and Bolte (Bridge) east towards the tunnel,” Reddit user u/isjimmyhere wrote alongside the photo.

The ill-considered removal of the e-cigarettes provoked angry reactions, with people noting the toxic and non-recyclable nature of their plastic casing and lithium batteries.

“Disposable fumes are like the worst of humanity,” one Reddit user wrote.

‘A whole block of plastic with an acid battery, so you can suck up nicotine smog for a few days and then throw it out into the world to leak acid and sit there until the extinction of humanityind.’

Another Reddit user succinctly described those who threw away their vapes as “spoiled animals.”

‘People really have no respect for anything. they are happy to live in their own filth,” said another comment.

However, some argued that the federal government should take some of the blame, with photo-clear evidence that the disposable vape ban wasn’t working.

“This is why you don’t ban, you regulate,” the user said.

“If they hadn’t banned these things, but only allowed refillable items, the number of people buying these disposable items on the black market would have been drastically reduced.”

Some noted that the fumes were almost constant.

“They clean it every two to three months and a day or two later it’s back… I drive by it every day,” one Reddit user wrote.

Some contrasted it unfavorably with the days when it was more common cigarettes cigarette butts lying on the side of the road.

“I’m not saying I condone it, but (back in the day) cigarette smokers would throw their butts out the window because it was on fire,” the user wrote.

Single-use disposable vapes have been banned in Australia since early January

“This is just lazy litter, they could easily be waiting for a bin.”

Last year, federal Health Minister Mark Butler announced that single-use disposable vapes would be banned, which came into effect on January 1.

From Friday, the import of all unlicensed vapes will be banned and personal vape import arrangements will be closed.

The government will also work to strengthen quality and safety standards for therapeutic vapors, which are now available only by prescription.

Butler revealed this week that the government would also spend $250,000 working with Spotify, social media influencers and sports stars as part of its anti-vaping programme.

But shortly after the announcement, old photos surfaced showing one of the collaborating ambassadors holding a vape.

Jaxon Fairbairn, member of Australian comedy duo Fairbairn Films, posted the photo to his Instagram in June, according to The Australian, although it appears to have been deleted.