Single Use Vape Campaign

New Legislation!

On 29th January 2024 the government announced that disposable vapes will be banned in the UK. Single-use vapes have quickly become part of our throw-away culture, and often end up being littered in our streets, towns and beaches. We support the decision to ban disposable vapes and look forward to learning more details of the legislation.

Until the new legislation comes into force, please use this information to continue disposing of your vapes in a responsible way.

Vape haul from Weymouth Beach

Did you know 65 million single use vapes are thrown away in the UK every year?

The market for disposable vapes has grown immensely in the last year. The product’s rapid growth in popularity on top of the lack of information and advice on disposal has led to thousands of single use vapes being littered and tonnes of valuable resources being wasted.

Litter Free Dorset want to make consumers aware of the correct disposal advice, to help reduce the environmental impacts of this product.

How to Dispose of Your Vapes Responsibly

1. Take your disposable vapes to your local House Hold Waste and Recycling Centre

Each disposable vape contains and lithium ion battery, putting them in the incorrect bin is a fire risk!
Vapers are currently throwing away 10 tonnes of lithium a year in the UK – enough to power 1,200 electric cars.

Find Your Local Household Waste and Recycling Centre

2. Check out these recycling schemes available at local shops and supermarkets

Vapes are classed as WEEE (Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment) meaning they can be recycled by retailers under the electrical takeback scheme. Please see below for information on specific retailer return schemes.

Click the links below for more information on retailer takeback schemes

3. Please #choosetoreuse wherever you can, by using a reusable vape instead of a single-use one. They will also save you money over time!

Reusable vapes are better for the planet, they can be recharged and refilled helping to save tonnes of lithium batteries and plastic from going to waste.
If you vape regularly then reusables will work out much cheaper in the long run, you could save more than £180 a year by switching to a reusable vape!

Facts About Single Use Vapes

Single use vapes contain harmful toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde and heavy metals that can leach into our environment when littered.

These chemicals cause harm to wildlife and can pollute our rivers and sea.

Each vape contains a lithium ion battery. Lithium is a finite resource and the mining process is destructive to the environment.

Please recycle your vapes to help reduce the impacts of lithium extraction.

Manufacture of the vapes sold in the UK leads to nearly 60,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

That’s the same amount of carbon dioxide released by roughly 375,000 people in the UK yearly.

Retailers – Help Share Our Campaign by Displaying Our Poster

Many consumers are unaware of how they should dispose of their used vapes, in fact, 1.3 million end up in landfill or incineration each week. Putting vapes into the wrong bin is a fire risk and also wastes valuable resources.

By displaying our poster your business can help make consumers aware that they can recycle their vapes.

Retailers who have agreed to display our poster

A big thank you to all our local stores (listed below) who have agreed to display the vape poster.

Spar East Street, Bridport
The Great Vape Shop, Bridport
Morrisons, Bridport
Nisa, West Bay
Spar, West Bay
Central, Burton Bradstock
Londis, St Edmund St, Weymouth
Evapo, Weymouth
The Co-operative Food Weymouth, Chickerell Road
Londis, Westham Road, Weymouth
Weymouth Vape, Abbotsbury Road
Sainsburys, Wareham
Spar Chapel Lane, Abbotsbury
Londis, Leigh Road, Wimborne
First Class Turkish Barbers, Wimborne

Has your store displayed a poster and want to be added to the list. Email Litter Free Dorset to let us know.