Vapes to feature in WEEE review

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”.

Disposable vapes also pose a potentially serious risk when not recycled, as lithium-ion batteries can start fires when crushed in a waste truck or at a waste-processing plant. They can [catch fire] very fast and very hard, and if they go in the back of a waste vehicle, which they have done, that waste is fuel for that fire.

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.