6.3 million vapes and pods are thrown away every week in the UK despite the ban on single-use vape products.
The sale of single-use vapes was banned in the UK in June last year; however, new research from Material Focus, a non-profit working to reduce e-waste, shows a staggering amount of e-cigarettes are still thrown away or recycled incorrectly each week.
Because of the lithium-ion batteries contained in vaping products, they’re a significant fire risk if disposed of incorrectly. They also contain valuable materials, such as lithium and copper, which are lost when the products are not recycled properly.
However, the ban appears to have made some impact, as the research shows there has been a 23% decrease in the amount of vapes thrown away each week. People are also buying fewer vapes and pods every week, with sales down 31%.
While the ban has flooded the market with new products that claim to be rechargeable, Material Focus found that 2.2 million single-use vapes are still being purchased every week.
The research also found there had been a 28% reduction in the sale of rechargeable vapes each week, down from 6.3 million in 2024 to 4.5 million last year.
Commenting on the findings, Scott Butler, Executive Director, Material Focus: “It should be as easy to recycle a vape as it is to buy one. We want more vapers demanding that the places where they buy them also provide recycling points.”
“It is a long-standing legal obligation for all of the stores that are profiting from selling them must offer safe recycling drop-off points and cover the costs of doing that. Vape producers and importers should then cover the costs of recycling.”
The research also found that 41% of people said that they have never tried to recycle their vapes at a retailer.
53% of people who tried to recycle their vape at a supermarket were able to do so every time, Material Focus found, compared to 65% who tried at a specialist vape store.