Waste Firms Propose £5 Deposit on Vapes to Combat Littering, Fire Risk
Waste management companies are proposing a deposit of up to £5 on vapes, aiming to enhance proper disposal. This recommendation follows a year after disposable vapes were banned in the UK due to their environmental impact and the operational issues they create for waste collection and processing infrastructure.
The Environmental Services Association (ESA), representing the waste industry, states that current vape recycling rates remain insufficient. They advocate for a small, refundable deposit at the point of purchase, describing it as a 'simple, fair, efficient and cost-neutral solution' to encourage consumers to return used devices to designated collection points or recycling facilities. Currently, vapes can be returned to retailers or recycling centres, but millions continue to be improperly disposed of in general waste bins or as litter.
Patrick Brighty, ESA's head of recycling policy, highlighted the ongoing risks: 'Despite the ban, each week operators across the waste sector continue to see hundreds of thousands of carelessly discarded vapes arrive at their facilities hidden among other waste, which poses a major fire risk.' He added that such improper disposal also constitutes a 'chronic waste of the precious materials they contain.'
Industry and Government Perspectives
Biffa, the UK's largest waste company, has suggested the £5 deposit figure, though the exact amount would be subject to further consultation. The Local Government Association (LGA) reports a modest reduction in improperly discarded vapes since the ban, from 8.2 million to approximately six million per week. The LGA also calls for a ban on 'reusable' vapes that mimic disposable models, arguing they exploit a loophole in the current regulations and continue to pose similar environmental and fire risks.
Conversely, the Independent British Vape Trade Association (IBVTA) concedes that more effort is needed to encourage vape recycling but expresses concerns that a deposit scheme could inadvertently boost the illicit vape market. Marcus Saxton, IBVTA chairman, warned that unregistered retailers would likely circumvent such a scheme, driving consumers towards unregulated products.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs did not directly address the deposit scheme proposal. Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds affirmed the government's 'decisive action' on disposable vapes and its commitment to 'going further' by ensuring retailers provide adequate vape recycling bins.
