6.3m vapes are thrown away each week despite single-use ban
Despite a ban on single-use vapes in the UK, 6.3 million are still discarded weekly, posing fire risks and material waste.Summary
Despite the ban on single-use vapes implemented in June of last year in the UK, a significant 6.3 million vapes and pods are still being thrown away each week, according to research from Material Focus. These discarded vapes pose a fire risk due to their lithium-ion batteries and represent a loss of valuable materials like lithium and copper. While the ban has led to a 23% decrease in discarded vapes and a 31% drop in sales, 2.2 million single-use vapes are still purchased weekly. Sales of rechargeable vapes have also decreased by 28%. Material Focus advocates for easier recycling access, stating that retailers should provide drop-off points and cover recycling costs, with producers and importers ultimately funding the process. The research indicates that 41% of consumers have never attempted to recycle their vapes at a retailer, and recycling success rates vary between supermarkets (53%) and specialist vape stores (65%).
(Source：Circular Online)
