Disposable Vapes Are Hard to Recycle; UK Waste Authority Urges Government to Impose a Full Ban

Clyde Loakes, chair of the North London Waste Authority (NLWA), has written to the Environment Secretary and environment ministers stating that disposable e-cigarettes, due to their “complex material composition,” create recycling problems that are “logistically difficult, labor-intensive, and expensive,” and has urged the government to ban disposable vapes.

According to a September 4 report from UK resource recycling website circularonline, Clyde Loakes, chair of the North London Waste Authority (NLWA), has written to the Environment Secretary and environment ministers stating that disposable e-cigarettes, because of their “complex material composition,” pose recycling challenges that are “logistically difficult, labor-intensive, and expensive,” and has urged the government to prohibit disposable vapes. 

Analysis by environmental recycling organization MATerial Focus shows that 90% of small e-cigarette and e-cigarette e-liquid producers in the UK appear to have failed to comply with environmental regulations. Material Focus had previously also noted that 1.3 million disposable vapes are thrown away every week in the UK. 

This time, Loakes called on the government to demonstrate its “commitment to protecting resources and the environment for future generations” either by imposing a ban or by making retailers and manufacturers responsible for managing e-cigarette waste. 

He said disposable vapes are driving a rapidly growing waste stream in the UK, wasting important resources and polluting the environment. 

“Although we have clearly told residents they should take them to reuse and recycling centers, or use take-back schemes, the legal obligations remain inconsistent.”

 Loakes argued that when reusable alternatives are readily available, the use of all disposable products should be stopped.

Reference:    【1】 Ban disposable vapes on environmental grounds, NLWA urges      

Related reading:    【1】 Wolverhampton store in the UK has its license revoked for illegally selling e-cigarettes   【2】 Kent County Council to step up crackdown on illegal e-cigarette sales   【3】 UK youth builds an electric skateboard using old e-cigarette batteries, calling attention to the problem of discarded e-cigarettes   【4】 UK study: Encouraging smokers to switch to e-cigarettes could save the NHS £500 million annually   【5】 ASH report: UK vapers reached 4.7 million in 2023, half using refillable devices and 30% choosing disposables