North Yorkshire Council launches vape disposal scheme

Ahead of Recycle Week, North Yorkshire Council has launched a safe vape disposal scheme, installing vape recycling bins at all 20 household waste recycling centres.

In its 21st year, Recycle Week runs from 14 to 20 October and shines a light on the nation’s recycling habits through activities and initiatives.

Once collected at the recycling centres, vapes will be transported to the recycling facility to be dismantled and the lithium-ion battery is removed for processing while the metals and plastics are recycled.

Lithium-ion batteries can cause fires if they are discarded in kerbside recycling or waste bins. Most fires in the waste collection and recycling industry are caused by these batteries.

“This exciting new initiative has the aim of ensuring that people who use vape devices know how to dispose of them in the right way,” Cllr Greg White, executive member for waste services at the council, said.

“Vapes are not safe to be recycled or disposed of in kerbside bins or boxes at home. One incorrectly discarded vape could cause huge damage or serious injury.”

“And, as always, during Recycle Week we are raising awareness of commonly missed items that can be recycled but end up in the rubbish. This includes empty aerosols, plastic cleaning product bottles, plastic toiletry bottles and food tins.”

Research released this year from Material Focus found that, in the UK, the public is buying 7.7 million single use vapes per week, which has doubled compared to 2022.

People are also throwing away five million single use vapes per week, or eight per second, which has quadrupled compared to 2022.