Partnership promotes first in-store recycling of used vaping products

A key initiative to recycle vaping products has been launched, involving a Stretford-based manufacturer of vapes, and Liverpool-based retail chain, B&M.

It will lead to more than 700 vape recycling bins being place in B&M stores, in a first of its kind move across the entire estate of a nationwide retail chain, enabling consumers yo dispose of their used vapes.

Supreme, the Stretford-based manufacturer, supplier, and brand owner of fast-moving consumer products, including vaping goods, is working with B&M, as well as global vape brand ELFBAR.

All three organisations say the campaign will ‘significantly increase’ the expansion of recycling.

It will also see hazardous waste management provider Wastecare Group in charge of collecting the bins once full and beginning an operation of disposing of the single-use devices more responsibly.

It comes against a background of ongoing government consultation over the potential restrictions on single-use vapes. Measures could be announced in the forthcoming Budget this March.

Sandy Chadha, chief executive of Supreme, said: “Here at Supreme, we always want to be one step ahead, and that’s no different regarding our environmental impact.

“As an organisation, we are continually developing long term recycling solutions across our whole product portfolio, and we are proud to be further driving recycling of used vapes across the breadth of the UK, in nearly 700 retail stores.”

Vape bin

In working with the Wastecare Group, the UK’s largest collector of portable batteries for recycling, the scheme will see a more responsible handling of the collected vapes, all containing lithium batteries. The raw materials will be recovered and recycled in line with existing disposal rules – the vape batteries will be processed to recover the lithium, and the filter and nicotine elements sent for incineration. All these recycling processes take place in the UK.

A B&M spokesperson said: “B&M welcomes the opportunity to work in a three-way partnership with ELFBAR and Supreme to tackle the ongoing environmental damage occurring by single-use, disposable vaping products.

“We want our consumers to use the products we sell in a responsible manner, and that remains even when they are no longer of use.

“These new bins offer a convenient and sustainable way for customers to dispose of their vapes. Like many of the other products we sell, vapes should never be binned or littered – especially now they can be so easily recycled.”

Earlier this month, Supreme announced other positive changes it is continually making to ensure vaping products are bought, used and disposed of appropriately.

Sandy Chadha added: “We hope this scheme will play its part to help vape users dispose in a far more sustainable manner. This is just the start of our ongoing plans – we are fully committed to increasing the rates of recycling. I hope one day every vape user disposes of their vape in the right way.”

Eve Peters, director of government affairs for ELFBAR in the UK, said: “Continuing ELFBAR’s commitment to its GreenAwareness programme, this marks another step towards helping the public dispose of used vapes sustainably and responsibly.

“Our research shows placing vape recycling bins in the stores where the devices sell is the most effective way to boost recycling rates. This trilateral collaboration is part of simplifying the recycling process for consumers and making it more accessible and convenient as part of the shopping experience.”