The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) recycling non-profit warned that “pods and pig puff” vapes are set to pose the same risks as the single-use vapes set to be banned on 1 June 2025.
In many cases they have a similar look, feel and price points to the models they are replacing, which could lead to similar disposal behaviours by vapers.
Scott Butler, executive director of Material Focus, said: “Without quick and extensive action, the threat of a vapocalypse remains and new big puff and pod vape models are already contributing to an environmental nightmare.
“Vape producers are being infinitely creative with their products in order to avoid the forthcoming disposable vape ban.
“The current ban will take some of the most environmentally wasteful vape products off the market.
“But we might need more flexible legislation to deal with the problem of new products with similar challenges surging onto the market.”
Since Material Focus began its records in 2022, 1.2 billion disposable style vapes have been bought and three quarters of billion disposable style vapes have been binned or littered.
This is the equivalent to 16,327 electrical vehicle batteries worth of lithium being thrown away.
All vape products – including rechargeable, big puff, pod and their replacement cartridges – can be recycled.
Material Focus’ Recycle Your Electricals initiative has a postcode locator with over 30,000 WEEE recycling points.
It is a legal requirement that vape retailers offer takeback schemes for the products.
Butler added: “It’s good to see that more vape retailers are beginning to offer recycling collection points, and more people are recycling them.
“However, this isn’t anywhere near enough to turn the tide. The majority of vapers are either unaware of where to recycle their vapes or don’t have a good experience of recycling them.
“It should be as easy to recycle a vape as it is to buy one. We want more vapers demanding that where they buy them provide recycling points. It is a legal obligation for all those who sell vapes to provide this after all.”
Alongside the toxic materials vapes contain which could damage the environment, the batteries inside the vapes pose a significant fire risk.
Material Focus research in 2024 identified that the number of battery fires in the waste stream had increased to over 1,200 in the last year, an increase of 71% from 700 in 2022.
Butler concluded: “Vapes, like any other electrical with a plug, battery or cable, should never be binned and always be recycled as a minimum.
“We need rapid growth in the number of accessible and visible vape recycling drop-off points.
“And we need proper retailer and producer financing of genuine recycling solutions to recover materials and manage fire risks.
“The UK needs more drop-off points in stores, in parks, in public spaces near offices, bars and pubs, and near to schools, colleges and universities.”
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