Thirteen vapes are thrown away every second in the UK – more than a million a day – leading to an “environmental nightmare”, according to research.
There has also been a rise in “big puff” vapes which are bigger and can hold up to 6,000 puffs per vape, with single use vapes averaging 600. Three million of these larger vapes are being bought every week according to the research, commissioned by Material Focus, and conducted by Opinium. 8.2 million vapes are now thrown away or recycled incorrectly every week.
From June 2025 it will be illegal to sell single-use vapes, a move designed to combat environmental damage and their widespread use by children. Vapes will only be allowed to be sold if they are rechargeable or contain a refillable cartridge.
But all types of vape contain lithium-ion batteries which are dangerous if crushed or damaged because they can cause fires in bin lorries or waste and recycling centres. These fires are on the rise across the UK, with an increase last year of 71% compared with 2022.
single use vapes are one of the most wasteful products imaginable
I don’t even understand how they’re so fucking cheap to make? I don’t vape but I smoke the disposable weed pens when im hunting or golfing and they cost the same per mg of weed as just the carts you need your own battery pack for. OK as I’m writing this I’m realizing it may be the profit margins of weed that is dictating this and not the cheap disposable pens🤣
soooo many free 18650s for my thinkpads 🥰🥰🥰
Lol could you imagine. 1 million 18650 rechargeable batteries a day you could salvage/collect? I’d be modding everything with battery packs and toss all usb chargers out for no reason but dramatic effect. Lol
But most of them aren’t 18650 batteries, they are bespoke sizes to fit in the little disposable vapes.
More people need to learn about Alan Carr’s Easyway to quit nicotine
The population is 67 million. I know there are probably people that go through multiple a week, but the average is 1 in 8 people are throwing out a vape every week. That’s crazy.
