The number of disposable single-use vapes being thrown away has soared by almost 400% in just one year to nearly 5 million per week, according to YouGov data.
The figures – which also reveal that eight vapes are being thrown away each second – come as the single-use products face increasing calls to be banned across the UK, for both environmental and public health reasons; the latter particularly because of their appeal to young children.
Commissioned by not-for-profit organisation Material Focus, the research also highlighted that there was enough lithium in the discarded products enough to create 5,000 electric car batteries a year.
“Since we last published our research the problem with single-use vapes has gotten further out of control,” said Material Focus’ executive director Scott Butler.
“Single-use vapes are a strong contender for being the most environmentally wasteful, damaging and dangerous consumer product ever made.”
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Including 16-17 year olds in the survey for the first time, the research also explored the preferred recycling solutions for vapes. A third (33%) of the young adults that vape throw them in the bin at school or work, while 40% said they would use recycling bins if they were made available.
At present, just 17% of people who vape say that they recycle single-use vapes in a shop or local recycling centre – although 76% say they would be more likely to recycle if vapes were marketed as ‘recyclable’.
Currently, the potential yearly cost of collecting and recycling the 360 million single-use vapes bought by adults each year stands at around £200 million, which is not being paid for by vape producers, importers or retailers – something Butler disagrees with.
“Very few producers and retailers comply with environmental regulations and haven’t put recycling drop-off points and systems in place,” he added.
“This all means that too often local authorities are being burdened with the major operational and financial headaches associated with what is now the fastest growing and most dangerous waste stream in the UK, single-use vapes.”
Material Focus has created an industry briefing note for both retailers and producers, outlining how vapes are adding to the e-waste crisis, and how they can comply with their legal environmental obligations.
It is calling for rapid growth in the number of “accessible and visible” vape recycling drop-off points as well as “proper financing of genuine recycling solutions”.
Butler believes the solution is clear: “Immediate, significant and transparent vape industry voluntary action in advance of planned regulatory changes already earmarked by Defra.”
“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… Until single-use vape producers, importers and retailers act to genuinely comply with and finance their legal environmental responsibilities then the calls for banning the sale of them will only strengthen.”
