Veolia has launched a national vape collection service which aims to provide a safe disposal and recycling route for e-cigarettes.
The global resource management company says it can now facilitate the collection and transport of vapes from retailers to a recycling facility to extract the devices’ valuable materials, such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and manganese.
Collections are planned to be scheduled according to demand and to store and transport these materials safely. Veolia is also providing retailers with individual containers of vermiculite, a mineral the company says will minimise fire risks from the lithium-ion batteries contained within the vapes.
The first vape retailer to sign up is Totally Wicked, which has a nationwide network of 154 stores. Each store is set to be equipped with a drop-off point for consumers to recycle their used vapes. These drop-off points will accept any brand and any type of disposable and rechargeable vape or e-cigarette.
Our new nationwide vape collection service will provide a safe recycling avenue to retailers who provide the mandatory take back schemes for vapes.
Commenting on the scheme’s launch, Donald Macphail, Chief Operating Officer – Treatment at Veolia UK, said: “Two vapes are thrown away every second. They might be called disposable, but they can and should be recycled.
“Our new nationwide vape collection service will provide a safe recycling avenue to retailers who provide the mandatory take back schemes for vapes and ensure that we can extract the valuable materials contained within, and mitigate any fire and environmental risks.”
Legislation covering the disposal of vapes and disposable e-cigarettes falls under the UK’s WEEE Regulations where vapes are classed under Category 7, Toys, Leisure and Sports Equipment.
Veolia says it “strongly supports” the Environment Agency’s intention to give vapes their own product category, stating they pose “different challenges” to dismantle and recycle compared to other WEEE in the category, particularly as they contain hazardous materials like lithium and nicotine.
