Posted on: Friday 27 October 2023
An estimated 5 million disposable vapes are thrown away every week in the UK – equivalent to eight every second.
Both disposable and reusable vapes pose a risk of fire if they are put into purple-lidded rubbish bins because of the batteries and chemicals they contain.
Residents can get rid of disposable and reusable vapes safely by taking them to the small electrical section at the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) in New Inn, or returning them to retailers.
Councillor Mandy Owen, Executive Member for the Environment, said: “Taking spent vapes to the Household Waste Recycling Centre helps to protect our crews from the risk of fire and prevents them ending up as litter. It also means they get recycled.
“For anyone who cannot get to the HWRC there, the retailers you bought the vape from has a legal duty to accept the old vape.”
Vapes are just one of 35 different items that can be recycled at the HWRC. Others include mattresses, furniture, fridges, freezers, TVs, and plasterboard.
Taking items to the HWRC to be recycled helps the council get closer to reaching the Welsh Government’s 70% recycling target by March 2025.
Don’t forget to sort your waste and recycling before going to the HWRC. Black bags will be checked.
Find out more about what you can recycle at the HWRC