Retailer is unable to get rid of 12,000 disposable vapes
VAPE retailer Peter Brierley has a few problems – 12,000 of them, to be exact – in the form of disposable vapes which have been returned to his shops but which he cannot now get rid of.
Mr Brierley owns three vape shops in Town, including Darth Vapor in Le Pollet, which specialises in the disposable variety of vape.
All of the shops have bins where used vapes can be deposited.
He has also provided an incentive to encourage users to bring them back rather than just put them in the bin – 25p off their next vape.
‘So if people bring in 10 they’ll get £2.50, or if they come in with 22 that’s basically a free vape,’ he said.
While some people use refillable vapes, disposable ones have taken off in popularity in recent years, and that has led to some people discarding them carelessly.
‘One morning I was on my way into Town and came across the pier and I picked up six, so I thought this was a problem – let’s pre-empt it,’ he said, and so started collecting them.
The problem for Mr Brierley is that as a commercial operator he cannot take his waste or recycling to Longue Hougue.
Guernsey Waste operations manager Sarah Robinson said that all domestic electrical and battery-operated devices including disposable vapes can be taken to the Longue Hougue Household Waste and Recycling Centre free of charge.
Batteries are manually removed as part of the recycling process.
‘With regards to vapes specifically, they are a relatively new product and we are currently reviewing how best to manage these as a waste stream and also how we can ensure the message is communicated to people on their correct disposal,’ she said.
‘As shops are classed as commercial they cannot bring their waste/recycling to us. This is something we need to follow up with Mr Brierley to help him determine the best way to get rid of these on a commercial scale.’
Concerns have been raised recently about waste caused by disposal vapes and potential risk of batteries igniting should they enter the waste stream. Nationally the vape industry has admitted that the disposal rules are unclear and there should be better national recycling schemes. Disposable vapes contain lithium batteries and copper, as well as plastic, which means they are classed as WEEE, waste electrical and electronic equipment. They should be disposed of at a household recycling centre, but many customers are unaware.
A UK study has unearthed that more than half of vapes are thrown straight in the bin, with more than 1m. thrown away each week.
