UKVIA Calls for Environmental Enforcement

Other findings from the Material Focus analysis include:

• More people are recycling their single-use vapes in store (20% this year compared to 8% last year)
• 77% of UK vapers feel there is not enough information on how to recycle vapes
• 3.3. million vapes per month are stashed in cupboards and drawers across the UK

In response to the research, UKVIA Director General John Dunne said: “The biggest positive change we can make is in consumer behaviour. Recycling rates in the UK are low and have consistently failed to meet targets – unfortunately, vape recycling is no exception.

“All e-cigarettes should be recycled regardless of whether they are disposable or not. Up to 80% of materials in vapes is recyclable and much of the rest is recoverable – very little needs to go to landfill.

“Changing consumer behaviour for the better would be difficult under the current system, however, serious consumer knowledge and attitude barriers combined with the lack of the infrastructure needed to facilitate recycling, has led to the situation we are in now.

“Dealing with waste of any kind needs a joined-up plan of action involving industry, regulators, local authorities, hospitality sector, waste management providers and consumer groups so that there is the vape waste infrastructure in place to provide consumers with easy access to recycling facilities at both point of sell and point of use.

“We know there is non-compliance when it comes to environmental regulations, and we want to see strong enforcement to ensure best practice, however, a recent Freedom of Information investigation by the UKVIA revealed that the Office for Product Safety & Standards – responsible for environmental regulations relating to retail stores selling vapes – did not hold information on the number of specialist and non-specialist vape businesses who have been fined or prosecuted for failing to meet their obligations.

“We want to see the vaping industry’s environmental responsibilities included in a new licensing scheme and for the health regulator to block products that are not environmentally compliant from making it to the market.”

Scott Butler, Executive Director, Material Focus said: “Without quick and extensive action, the threat of a vapocalypse remains and new big puff 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. Whilst the current ban will take some of the most environmentally wasteful products off the market, we might need more flexible legislation to deal with the ongoing challenges of the new products surging onto the market. It’s good to see that more vape retailers are beginning to provide recycling facilities, 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 as it is a legal obligation for all those who sell vapes to provide this after all.   

“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 accessible recycling drop-off points in stores, in parks, in public spaces near offices, bars and pubs, and in schools, colleges and universities.”

Photo Credit:

• Photo by Christian Wiediger on Unsplash

Dave Cross

Journalist at POTV

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Dave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.