'Valuable resources lost forever': Carlow people urged not to throw vapes in the bin
The warning has come from Ireland's e-waste recycling scheme
Carlow vapers are being urged to never bin their vapes as it is causing serious environmental and fire risks and "valuable resources to be lost forever."
The warning has come from Ireland's e-waste recycling scheme, the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE).
Of the over 25 million vapes sold last year, only 1.4 million were disposed of correctly and returned for recycling.
23.6 million were thrown away or dumped in household bins, according to new figures from Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Ireland.
Despite a vast network of free take-back facilities, just 6 per cent of used vape and e-cigarette devices were returned for recycling in the 20 counties in which it operates.
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It also warned that the true scale of careless vape disposal in Ireland may be higher due to illegal vape imports and unregulated sellers.
To confront the issue, WEEE Ireland has launched a ‘Never Bin Vapes’ public awareness campaign, urging consumers to take responsibility for recycling disposable and rechargeable vapes correctly through the not-for-profit organisation’s free take-back network.
"Millions of devices containing batteries, electrical components and plastics are ending up in the wrong places every year, despite knowledge of the serious environmental and fire risks," Leo Donovan, CEO of WEEE, said.
New research has found that 9 in 10 adults understand that battery-powered devices incorrectly thrown into household bins can be damaged in bin trucks or recycling facilities, which can cause fires.
However, awareness drops when it comes to vapes, with just 50% of adults recognising that vapes pose the same risk.
"These devices contain critical raw materials such as lithium, copper and cobalt that can be recovered and reused in manufacturing, supporting the circular economy," Leo said.
The campaign encourages consumers to recycle all disposable and rechargeable vapes for free wherever they see WEEE Ireland Blue Battery Boxes, available in thousands of locations nationwide.