UK Edition
Two disposable vapes are being thrown away every second in the UK, despite them containing scarce minerals needed to build electric car batteries, results from a new survey show.
Disposable vapes, which last for around a week, have been bought by around seven per cent of the population in the last year, results from a survey of 4,000 adults in the UK suggest.
They are most popular among 18-34 year olds, who make up half the market for disposable vapes, according to the survey by Opinium.
Around half of all the estimated 168 million disposable vapes sold every year are thrown in the bin, despite rising demand for the lithium in their batteries, according to a joint investigation by The Telegraph, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism and Sky News.
The amount of lithium thrown away in disposable vapes every year would be enough to build around 1,200 electric car batteries.
Importers are responsible for providing recycling facilities for electrical waste, but industry experts say they are shirking their responsibilities, making it easier for users to throw vapes away.
Recycling options ‘not as widely available as they should be’
“This seems to be a growing phenomena,” said Scott Butler, the executive director of Material Focus, which conducted the research. “And it's clear that the options for recycling them are not as widely available or as widely communicated as they should be.”
The Telegraph contacted all four vape importers on the official electrical producer register but none could confirm any provisions made for recycling of their disposable models.
The vapes contain small amounts of lithium in their batteries, the same material which is used for electric cars, as well as mobile phones and other small electricals.
Global lithium demand is currently outstripping supply, leading to prices rising tenfold in the last three years.
“With demand for lithium and cobalt set to soar as we transition to green technologies, we need to be smart about how we use them,” said Susan Evans, the head of resources policy at think tank Green Alliance.
“Just like taking a refillable mug to get our morning coffee, the transition to e-cigarettes offers the potential to introduce reusable systems that reduce litter and waste. But if producers opt for disposables, or for e-cigarettes with batteries that can’t be removed for recycling, we could have an even worse, more toxic problem on our hands than the longstanding issue of cigarette litter.”
Vapes can be processed along with other small electrical waste, although the amount of lithium contained is so small that is not always economically viable for it to be recovered.
Batteries often catch fire in bins
When placed in bins or in general recycling, the batteries often catch fire as they are processed, which can lead to significant damage.
“Aside from being incredibly wasteful devices that are contributing to the growing volumes of electronic waste in the UK, single use or short-life vape devices also pose a real danger to recycling and waste workers because the hidden, powerful, lithium-ion batteries in them are known to start fires if they are not discarded carefully,” said Jacob Hayler, the executive director of the Environmental Services Association, which represents the waste industry.
“We’re seeing a growing number of dangerous and costly fires in recycling plants, waste facilities and refuse collection vehicles across the UK started by batteries hidden inside a range of consumer electronic devices that have been chucked in the bin or mixed with other recycling instead of being recycled carefully alongside other waste electrical items – with vape devices among the list of culprits.”
The ESA added that producer-funded infrastructure was “patchy at best” with many consumers having no idea where their nearest recycling point.
An EA spokesperson said: “Businesses who sell electrical or electronic equipment on the UK market are required to comply with the WEEE regulations. Any business identified as failing to comply with these regulations will be subject to an appropriate enforcement response.
“Defra will be exploring improvements to the collection and recycling of small mixed waste, electric and electronic equipment later this year.”