Vaping has been on the rise in recent years as many look towards quitting smoking. This is a good stepping stone to being smoke free, however as vaping has risen in popularity, so has "disposable" vapes. This is creating significant environmental issues: 

• As of 2017, there were 565 types of e-cigarette devices on the market, 184 of which were disposable or single-use
• Users in the UK are throwing away around 2 disposable vapes every second. The number of discarded disposable vapes accounts for around 10 tonnes of lithium being sent to landfill or waste incinerators each year - enough of the metal to make batteries for 1,200 electric cars
• 'Zombie' batteries have been found to cause hundreds of fires a year at recycling plants after being thrown away incorrectly (disposable vapes would be classed in this group)
• If littered, these create extremely toxic waste which can be harmful to children, pets, and wildlife as the battery may be damaged and leak chemical

This campaign has not yet got off the ground, as I speak with my MP about moving forward in the most informed way possible.

​However, if you are also passionate about this issue please get in touch and let me know how you could get involved with this campaign if it were to launch.

• Although branded as "disposable" many of the most popular brands such as Elf Bar pictured below contain NO information on their websites explaining how to responsibly dispose of their products
• As vapes are classed as Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and the e-liquid in the vape contains nicotine and a host of other chemicals, disposal of these products must comply with both the WEEE Directive and Hazardous Waste Regulations, something which is not stated on many brands websites
  • Information about recycling your disposable vapes can be found here and here

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Amit Katwala and Charlotte Williams explore the world of e-cigarettes and vapes, tracing their extraordinary growth and asking whether they’re life savers or something more insidious. We hear from Time journalist Jamie DuCharme, author of the book Big Vape, about the rise and fall of the e-cigarette firm Juul who recently paid out over $430 million after being accused of targeting teenagers with its advertising. 

Shaun Yendalls, the owner of two vape shops in South London, explains why his staff actively try to stop people buying his products and Scott Butler from Material Focus details the massive environmental impact of the new fad for disposable vapes.

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Colin Mearns

I've finally had enough of disposable vapes, and want to do something about it! Read the article to find out more...