Vape shops encouraged to "take back and recycle": 13 disposables thrown away every second
We're hearing from Essex convenience stores that "didn't know" they had to provide a recycling service for old vapes
Ahead of the single-use vape ban this summer, we're hearing from Essex retailers who say they've been "told nothing" about it, and "didn't know" they had to offer a recycling service.
New research by the not-for-profit environmental organisation, Material Focus, found an estimated 8.2 million vapes are now thrown away or littered every week in the UK, which is the equivalent of 13 each second.
With under two months until the ban comes into force, the Department for Education insists it will help build "a circular economy" and "tackle throwaway culture".
In the run up, they are urging businesses to take action to ensure they are prepared for its implementation.
This includes making sure all remaining stocks of single-use vapes are sold, disposing of remainders via a "take back and recycle" scheme, and only buying vapes that follow the new regulations.
Retailers have always had " a long-term obligation" to provide a take-back and recycling service for old vape devices when selling new ones, says Material Focus.
Scott Butler, executive director of Material Focus, said: “This means offering in store takeback wherever they are sold and financing the costs of recycling and recovering the materials from them to support a more sustainable and circular economy.
But two convenience store owners in Loughton, Essex, told Greatest Hits Radio they had "no idea" remainders had to be recycled, and "don't provide" a recycling service.
Recycling single-use vapes is notoriously arduous, with waste industry workers needing to take them apart by hand which can be a slow and costly process.
Their contents also present a fire risk to recycling facilities and can leak harmful chemicals into the environment.
A vape shop manager in Debden, Essex, says he was handed two "Project Green Wings" vape bins over a year ago which are now overflowing but doesn't know what to do with them.
"I thought people would come and collect them but nothing's happened."
"We have people coming in daily with bags of vapes, and we don't know what to do with them."
The government says it is retailers' responsibility to safely dispose of any all types of vapes, including remaining single-use vapes after the ban on sales on 1 June 2025.
Waste Minister Mary Creagh said:
“For too long, single-use vapes have littered our streets, wasted valuable resources and harmed wildlife.
“Our ban comes into force in just a few weeks so businesses must play their part by running down stocks and ensuring the remainder are collected for recycling."
Material Focus has produced a vapes briefing paper that explains how vape retailers and producers can recycle vapes appropriately and provides guidance for local authorities.