Waste companies are urging the government to put a £5 deposit on vapes to reduce the millions that are being thrown away each month

It follows concerns that the ban on the sale of single-use, non-refillable, or non-rechargeable vapes, which came into force in June 2025, has not had the intended impact in reducing the number of devices being thrown away in household waste.

Waste companies and campaigners have argued that users find it more convenient and cost-effective to discard and purchase a new vape rather than refill and maintain them.

As reported by BBC News, the proposal from the Environmental Services Association (ESA) will see a deposit charged on a vape when it is purchased, which will then be refunded to customers when it is disposed of properly, minimising the fire risk associated with crushed or damaged lithium-ion batteries in waste trucks and at waste sites. ESA called it a “simple, fair, efficient and cost-neutral solution”. 

Head of Recycling Policy at ESA, Patrick Brighty, said: "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.

"Vapes discarded with other rubbish are also unlikely to be recycled, which is a chronic waste of the precious materials they contain."

There have been concerns, however, that introducing a deposit scheme could deter people from buying vapes through legal routes. Marcus Saxton, chairman of the Independent British Vape Trade Association, warned: “Those retailers that aren't abiding by their legal obligation won't do this, it won't be enforced, and ultimately consumers will go to that route to purchase which is a complete disaster.”

A report from recycling charity, Material Focus, highlighted that prior to the ban, 8.2 million vapes and pods were thrown away each week, but this has only reduced by 23%, with over 6 million still being discarded. The organisation has called on vape stores to offer better guidance to customers on safe disposal and recycling. 

Scott Butler, Executive Director of Material Focus, said: “The single-use vapes ban has had an impact, but 6 million vapes and pods are still being thrown away a week, and this is still a massive waste of valuable materials and a major fire risk.”

He continued: “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 who 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.”

In another survey of 1,000 people carried out by Biffa, the UK’s largest waste company, 66% understood that the improper disposal of vapes in household and commercial bins can result in fires at waste trucks and waste sites, but only 38% of respondents returned them to the store for safe disposal and recycling. 

In a press release issued on 1 June, the Local Government Association (LGA) has called on the government to change the definition of single-use vapes to include disposable-style products, thus closing an industry loophole. On behalf of councils in England, the LGA is also urging the enforcement of retail take-back schemes and penalties for non-compliance, with vape retailers and producers covering the cost of collection. 

Cllr Dr Wendy Taylor MBE, Chair of the LGA’s Health and Wellbeing Committee, said: “The ban on single-use vapes was the right decision and councils continue to be strong supporters. 

“A year on, the volume of vapes in our bins has dropped, but industry has moved faster than regulation – the products causing fires in our bin lorries today are effectively the same disposables in a different shell.

“Councils are bearing the cost of contaminated recycling and dangerous fires, with residents ultimately paying through council tax instead of producers and retailers.

“Year one of the ban has shown what regulation alone can achieve. Year two must focus on enforcement, producer responsibility, and closing this industry loophole to keep rechargeable vapes out of our waste system, preventing further fires and reducing unnecessary local resource drain.”