A majority of disposable e-cigarettes are not recycled and end up in landfills

A joint investigation by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, Sky News and the Daily Telegraph has revealed that two disposable e-cigarettes (puffs) are thrown into the bin every second in the UK.[1]. So millions of these products, which could be recycled, end up in landfills even though they contain lithium, a metal that is in high demand and needed for batteries. Over the course of a year, that's enough lithium to make about 1,200 electric car batteries.

Most disposable e-cigarettes, known as “puffs,” contain a rechargeable battery but no charging port and are designed to be thrown away once the battery is exhausted. The rapid growth of these products poses a new environmental problem. Produced in large quantities and containing batteries composed of heavy metals, electronic circuits, plastic and residues of liquids and nicotine, they become massive and dangerous sources of waste. When they are poorly recycled or abandoned in nature, they decompose, releasing microplastics, thus polluting waterways, fauna or flora.

Disposable e-cigarettes drive growth in vaping products

In the UK, sales of disposable e-cigarettes are currently booming. A survey conducted by Opinium – on behalf of Material Focus, a recycling non-profit – found that 18 out of 4,000 respondents had purchased a vape in the previous year, including 7 who purchased a single-use device.

Figures from Opinium suggest that around 168 million disposable vapes are purchased in the UK each year. Two of the biggest brands in the country are Elf Bar and Geek Bar, which together account for around 60% of the market.

Having arrived in France about a year ago, puffs are arousing increasing enthusiasm among teenagers, even though to date there is no official data on the consumption of these products in the country.

No guidance on how to recycle disposable e-cigarettes

According to the same study, more than half of people who buy disposable e-cigarettes throw them in the trash after use. Although each cigarette contains only 0.15g of lithium, the scale of the waste means that around 10 tonnes of the metal ends up in landfills.

The Li-ion batteries in these products are made of materials such as cobalt, graphite and lithium, which are considered critical minerals. The demand for lithium for batteries is expected to increase fivefold by 2030 due to the move away from fossil fuels and the energy transition. The production of this metal is a complex process that uses enormous amounts of energy and water.

In the UK, vapes are classified as waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and require specialist recycling. Manufacturers have certain obligations in relation to waste electrical and electronic equipment and must be registered on the public register under the WEEE Producer Requirements. The Bureau’s investigation could find no evidence that the manufacturers of Elf Bar and Geek Bar are listed on the register, or that they are taking specific steps to promote recycling.

In France, although manufacturers declare that their products are recyclable, few indications concerning recycling are given to the customer when purchasing the products at the point of sale.

Fire hazards

Disposable e-cigarettes also pose a serious risk when they are not recycled properly. The batteries are easily damaged by pressure, such as being squeezed or punctured, or by friction, as is often the case in a waste truck or waste treatment plant. “These products are combustible and can ignite very quickly and explode,” says Scott Butler, director of Material Focus.

Keywords: Disposable e-cigarettes, puffs, recycling, lithium, battery,

AE

[1] Matthew Chapman, Fin Johnston, Rise of single-use vapes sending tons of lithium to landfills, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, published July 15, 2022, accessed July 18, 2022