Vapes are electronic devices that allow people to inhale nicotine as a vapour instead of smoke and are often used to help people give up smoking.
Fourteen million single-use vapes are bought each month and 1.3 million are thrown away every week, according to research from Material Focus, the not-for-profit organisation funded by the WEEE compliance fee.
Last week (14 January), the department for the environment, food and rural affairs (Defra) published its response to its consultation on commonly littered single-use plastic items, which ran from November 2021 to February 2022 (see letsrecycle.com story). Within its response, Defra noted it had not explored the issues around waste generated from disposable vapes.
Defra says it is reviewing the current producer responsibility systems for WEEE and batteries and plans to publish the much-delayed consultations on both areas “this year”, and in doing so will look at vapes.
The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA), the trade body representing the UK’s vaping industry’s interests, says it is in discussions along with its member with several waste companies to create a recycling solution that is “fit for purpose for the vaping sector”.
Waste electricals
Scott Butler, Material Focus’s executive director, told letsrecycle.com his organisation had helped identify the environmental issues with single-use vapes and “wouldn’t be surprised” to see them feature in the upcoming WEEE review.
He added: “However, producers, importers, distributors and retailers of vapes need to do more now to make it easier to recycle them, as at least over one million a week are being incorrectly binned and littered and they are a significant contributor to waste electricals, the UK’s fastest growing waste stream.”
Material Focus has produced a briefing note setting out in detail vape producers and retailers’ current environmental requirements. These include joining a producer compliance scheme if they place more than five tonnes of electricals on the market, among other things.
‘Not straightforward’
John Dunne, the UKVIA’s director general, said his industry recognised its responsibilities to the environment, but recycling vapes was “not straightforward” as it required collaboration between adult vapers, retailers, manufacturers, regulators and waste management companies.
There has been genuine confusion amongst the vaping sector about their responsibilities under the WEEE directive
- John Dunne, UKVIA director general
Mr Dunne added: “Up to now there has been genuine confusion amongst the vaping sector about their responsibilities under the WEEE directive.
“Earlier this year, the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment alluded to uncertainty around whether regulations covered the type of batteries found in vapes and also questioned the recycling infrastructure in place to support the sector to be more sustainable.
“This is why we are working hard as an industry to find a waste management solution that minimises the impact of vapes on the environment, particularly when it comes to single-use disposables, so they are seen for what they do best – helping adult smokers kick their habits and save the lives of millions, as well as millions of pounds for the health service.
“We are liaising with Defra and the Office for Product Safety and Standards, as well as calling upon our members and the wider industry to innovate products that make them easier to recycle for the waste management sector.”
‘Astounding’
Kirsten Oswald, the SNP MP for East Renfrewshire, referenced Material Focus’s research during a parliamentary debate on 12 January, saying the 1.3 million single-use vapes thrown away every week led to a “litter nightmare” and the improper disposal of precious metals such as lithium.
Ms Oswald asked recycling minister Rebecca Pow what work was being done to produce clear recycling advice and to get manufacturers and retailers to install collection points in shops.
Mrs Pow replied: “It is astounding that these disposable vapes are being literally littered. Measures include our extended producer responsibility scheme, which puts the onus on the manufacturer and the seller of the product to deal with their safe disposal.
“Repair, restore and recycle will eventually take in all these different sectors that we are having to deal with and we are starting with packaging.”
Related link
Material Focus industry briefing on vapes recycling for retailers and producers
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