LONDON: A recent study conducted by the not-for-profit organization Material Focus has unveiled a shocking statistic – five million single-use vapes are discarded in the UK every week, marking a fourfold increase compared to 2022. This translates to an astounding rate of eight vapes being thrown away every second, each containing valuable lithium that could be used to create 5,000 electric car batteries annually. The environmental and health concerns associated with this escalating issue have led to growing demands for bans and regulations on single-use vapes.
The escalating crisis
Material Focus, the organization behind this eye-opening research, has expressed deep concern over the rapidly worsening problem of single-use vape waste. Scott Butler, the executive director at Material Focus, has gone so far as to label single-use vapes as “the most environmentally wasteful, damaging, and dangerous consumer product ever made.” The environmental implications are dire, as discarded vapes contribute to waste and pose a severe threat to public safety due to their lithium batteries, which can become flammable when crushed.
Who should shoulder the responsibility?
Material Focus estimates that the potential cost of collecting and recycling these vapes is £200 million, and they firmly believe that this expense should be borne by vape producers, importers, and retailers. Sales of disposable vapes have surged to over 360 million annually, with alarming increases in young women vaping daily, according to government figures. Paediatricians have sounded the alarm, stating that vaping is rapidly becoming an epidemic among children, urging the government to take action against disposable vapes.
A call for action
A YouGov survey revealed that 33% of 16-18-year-olds who vape dispose of their e-cigarettes in the trash. The lack of compliance by producers and retailers with environmental regulations and the absence of recycling infrastructure has left local authorities dealing with a major operational and financial burden. This situation has turned single-use vapes into the fastest-growing and most dangerous waste stream in the UK.
Several other countries have already taken measures to address this issue. France is considering a national ban on disposable e-cigarettes, Germany has banned flavoured e-cigarettes, and Ireland is exploring a ban on single-use vapes. Scotland has also announced plans for a consultation on banning disposable vapes in 2024.
Survey results
Material Focus conducted a survey involving 5,156 UK adults and 167 16- and 17-year-olds to understand the scale of the single-use vape waste problem and how these products are disposed of. The study found that 75% of vapers believe that producers and retailers should provide more information on vape recycling. However, only 17% of people currently recycle single-use vapes, with 73% being thrown away and 1% being flushed down toilets.
Proposed solutions
Material Focus proposes a multi-pronged approach to address this crisis. They advocate for the introduction of visible vape recycling drop-off points and the proper financing of genuine recycling solutions. Immediate, significant, and transparent voluntary action from the vape industry is also urged. Material Focus believes that the term “disposable” should be removed from the marketing of these products.
Moreover, the organization calls for more information to be displayed on vapes, explaining how they can be recycled. Additionally, they recommend the establishment of recycling points in stores, parks, public places, schools, and colleges. More than half of the survey respondents expressed that they would be more likely to recycle single-use vapes if such points were available in stores.
Material Focus has produced resources, including a briefing note for retailers and producers on complying with environmental regulations for vapes, as well as a postcode locator featuring 13,000 locations where vapes can be recycled.
Government response
In response to the crisis, a spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs stated that the government is deeply concerned about the environmental impact of disposable vapes. They are expected to publish a response to the call for evidence on vaping and will consider legislative changes to ensure the vaping sector bears the cost of collecting and treating their used products.
