Recycling Electronic Cigarette Devices: UK Considers Changes

Disposing of used e-cigarette devices, particularly disposable ones, has become a major issue. As a result, the UK is considering making changes to ensure that the e-cigarette industry "plays its part" in funding the collection and disposal of e-cigarette products as part of an upcoming review of waste electrical and electronic equipment regulations.

A study by the non-profit environmental organization Material Focus found that approximately 14 million disposable e-cigarettes are sold every month, with 1.3 million units discarded every week.

Last week, Let's Recycle reported that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) released its response to a consultation on commonly discarded single-use plastic items, which ran from November 2021 to February 2022. Defra stated in its response that it did not address the issue of waste generated by disposable e-cigarettes.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that it is currently reviewing the producer responsibility regime for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and batteries. Defra has also revealed plans to finally release long-awaited consultations on these two areas later this year, during which they will also study the impact of electronic cigarettes.

The trade organization representing the interests of the UK electronic cigarette industry, known as the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA), has announced that it is in discussions with several waste recycling companies to establish a "recycling solution suitable for the electronic cigarette industry" with the help of its members.