Nicotine vaping products (NVPs) contain lithium-ion batteries which pose a fire risk if damaged. It has been reported that, across the UK, over 700 bin lorry and recycling facility fires were caused by incorrect disposal of batteries during 2023.

Since January, retailers who sell vapes are legally required to provide a free take-back service.

There are 322 premises registered with the Scottish Government to sell NVPs in North Lanarkshire. In a recent survey of 101 of these premises carried out by our Trading Standards Team, it was found that just 23.7% were operating a vape take-back scheme.

The team are supporting the UK government’s Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), which is working with the retail industry to ensure these recycling facilities are widely available locally.

Officers currently carry out visits to check that retailers are following the legal requirements on selling age-restricted products, including tobacco and NVPs. They will also now check if shops offer a vape takeback scheme.

Most supermarkets provide recycling facilities, and the OPSS is now focusing on ensuring they are available in filling stations and other retail premises as part of a stepped programme to ensure full retailer compliance.

“Sales of single-use vapes have increased by 400% in the last two years to around 7.7 million every week in the UK, causing significant health concerns and an environmental problem,” said Councillor Helen Loughran, Convener of the Environment and Climate Change Committee.

“They are increasingly being dropped as litter on our streets and are causing a fire risk in bin lorries and at recycling centres when they’re disposed of in household bins. It is important that people dispose of vapes responsibly by recycling them to prevent damage to the environment.

“Our Trading Standards team will be working with the OPSS to ensure local retailers meet their legal responsibilities to provide recycling facilities, making it easy for residents to dispose of vapes correctly and safely.”

To find local vape recycling facilities, visit Electrical recycling - Where to recycle & donate - Recycle Your Electricals an online search facility provided by Material Focus, an independent, not-for-profit organisation.

Vape disposal points are available at the council’s Household Waste Recycling Centres - Recycling centres | North Lanarkshire Council. Please note there is no pedestrian access to the centres; vehicle access only.