Vapes can now be recycled at points across County Durham, thanks to a new scheme. Recycling containers are in place at 12 of the county’s household waste recycling centres, with smaller containers available in 15 community venues. Durham County Council has introduced the scheme in response to requests from local residents.
Cllr Mark Wilkes, the council’s Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and climate change, said: “It isn’t safe to dispose of used vapes at home and we ask people not to put them in their bins because their lithium batteries are highly flammable, explosive and polluting. As we’ve seen across the country, they are becoming a growing litter problem too. They leak battery acid and leftover nicotine, which is highly poisonous to most animals, into the environment.
“It’s very clear that an alternative to disposable vapes is needed sooner rather than later but people have been asking us if we can provide a way to dispose of vapes safely and responsibly. We’ve listened, and we’ve launched this scheme. You can now recycle vapes at 12 of our household waste recycling centres, as well as selected community points. Some retailers also offer a return scheme so that’s something worth looking into too.
“The lithium contained in vapes is actually a scarce material and last year in the UK, the lithium in the vapes that were thrown away could have been used to make batteries for 1,200 electric cars. The vapes we collect are sent to a local vape treatment and recovery facility, where they are dismantled and the plastic and metals are processed for recycling. The batteries are recycled and the wick, filter and nicotine are sent for incineration.”
More locally, vapes can be recycled at Heighington, Coxhoe, Romanway and Tudhoe waste recycling centres as well as Newton Aycliffe Library and Spennymoor Youth and Community Centre.
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
