WEEE Ireland urging users not to bin the vapes
VAPERS in Galway are being urged to never bin their vapes as only six per cent of the 25 million vapes returned for recycling last year.
Recent figures from Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Ireland indicate that out of the 25 million vapes sold in Ireland last year, only 1.4 million returned for recycling while 23.6 million were simply thrown away or dumped in household bins.
It also warned that the true scale of careless vape disposal in Ireland may be higher due to illegal vape imports and unregulated sellers.
To confront the issue, WEEE Ireland has launched a ‘Never Bin Vapes’ public awareness campaign, urging consumers to take responsibility for recycling disposable and rechargeable vapes correctly through the not-for-profit organisation’s free take-back network.
“Our research shows a concerning low awareness of correct vape disposal and that vapes are part of the free e-waste and battery takeback system,” said Leo Donovan, CEO of WEEE Ireland.
“Millions of devices containing batteries, electrical components and plastics are ending up in the wrong places every year, despite knowledge of the serious environmental and fire risks,” he added.
New research also highlights a lack of awareness among adults and young adults aged 18 to 30 years, who believe vapes can be thrown into general household waste or recycling bins.
“These devices contain critical raw materials such as lithium, copper and cobalt that can be recovered and reused in manufacturing, supporting the circular economy,” said Mr Donovan.
“When thrown in the bin those valuable resources are lost forever. There is also a very real fire risk if battery powered products such as vapes become crushed or damaged during waste collection and processing,” he added.
The campaign encourages consumers to recycle all disposable and rechargeable vapes by dropping them in the Blue Battery Boxes, available at different supermarkets and stores across the country.
For more information, visit: www.weeeireland.ie.