New research commissioned by Material Focus and conducted by Opinium has uncovered an alarming trend in the UK: more than a million vapes are being thrown away or recycled incorrectly every day. This staggering figure, which equates to 13 vapes discarded every second, has led to what experts are calling an "environmental nightmare."
Larger "Big Puff" Vapes Exacerbate Problem
The study also highlights the growing popularity of "big puff" vapes, which are larger devices capable of holding up to 6,000 puffs per unit, compared to the average of 600 puffs for a standard single-use vape. According to the research, approximately three million of these larger vapes are being purchased every week, contributing to the 8.2 million vapes that are improperly disposed of or recycled each week.
Single-Use Vape Ban Aims to Combat Environmental Damage
In an effort to address the environmental damage caused by single-use vapes and their widespread use among children, the UK government has announced that it will be illegal to sell these devices from June 2025. Under the new regulations, only rechargeable vapes or those with refillable cartridges will be permitted for sale.
Lithium-Ion Batteries Pose Fire Risk and Environmental Hazards
All types of vapes contain lithium-ion batteries, which can be dangerous if crushed or damaged, as they have the potential to cause fires in bin lorries or waste and recycling centers. The UK has witnessed a 71% increase in these fires in the past year compared to 2022.
Environmentalists also consider vapes to be wasteful and damaging to the ecosystem, as they contain valuable and critical materials such as lithium and copper, which often end up in landfills. Material Focus estimates that the number of vapes discarded annually could instead power 10,127 electric vehicles. Furthermore, when littered, vapes pose a toxic threat to wildlife.
Urgent Action Needed to Address Vape Waste Crisis
Material Focus is calling for urgent action to tackle the growing vape waste crisis, including the implementation of takeback systems in shops as part of a proposed licensing system for selling vapes. The campaign group also advocates for more information to be displayed on vapes and in shops regarding proper recycling methods.
Scott Butler, executive director of Material Focus, emphasizes the need for more flexible legislation to deal with the ongoing challenges posed by new products surging onto the market, even as the forthcoming disposable vape ban aims to remove some of the most environmentally wasteful products.
"It should be as easy to recycle a vape as it is to buy one," Butler states. "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."
He also stresses the importance of never binning vapes and always recycling them at a minimum, similar to any other electrical device with a plug, battery, or cable. To facilitate this, Butler calls for rapid growth in the number of accessible and visible vape recycling drop-off points in stores, parks, public spaces near offices, bars, pubs, schools, colleges, and universities.
As the UK grapples with the mounting vape waste crisis, it is clear that a multifaceted approach involving legislation, retailer and producer responsibility, and increased consumer awareness will be necessary to mitigate the environmental impact of these devices and promote sustainable practices.
