The much-trumpeted ban on disposable vapes, introduced one year ago today, has done little to tackle the issue of discarded devices, with 6.3m ‘reusable’ vapes still thrown away every week, prompting calls for a £5 deposit to be paid by vapers.
The ban, introduced to stem the tide of vape batteries leaching into soil or igniting when crushed in refuse lorries and plants, mandates that all vapes must be rechargeable and refillable.
But the Local Government Association, which represents councils in England, says reusable devices are being priced, sold and used “in the same way as the disposables they replaced”.
The LGA highlights research from recycling non-profit Material Focus that while the number of discarded vapes has dropped from 8.2m, some 6.3 devices are still being thrown away every week in the UK, while bin-lorry thermal events are actually on the rise, with Veolia reporting a fire a day in its refuse vehicles.
Industry body the Environmental Services Association says vapers should pay a refundable deposit when purchasing a new vape device, with waste-firm Biffa suggesting to the BBC that £5 would be enough to encourage vapers to properly dispose of the devices, which should be returned via retailer take-back schemes, or dropped off at recycling centres.
Scott Butler, executive director of Material Focus describes the situation as a “vapocalypse” and says while the single-use ban “has had an impact”, the 6.3m vapes still being thrown away each week represents “a massive waste of valuable materials and a major fire risk”.
Separately, tobacco giant Philip Morris estimates that despite the ban, 34% of vaping adults are still obtaining and using single-use devices. The firm says common tactics for manufacturers looking to dodge the legislation including fitting dummy charging ports to devices that are billed as ‘reusable’, or not offering refill pods.
