1.3 million disposable (single-use) vapes are thrown away every week, enough to cover 22 football pitches every year. The number of vapes thrown away are contributing to the fastest-growing waste stream in the UK with over 155,000 tonnes of electrical waste thrown away every year and 527 million electrical items hoarded in UK homes, according to new research commissioned by Material Focus.
The number of vapes bought is part of a growing phenomenon in the UK with half a billion now bought each year, with almost a fifth of UK adults having bought either a single-use, rechargeable, or rechargeable with a single-use chamber vape. The research has also identified that single use vapes are particularly problematic with nearly 14 million single-use vapes bought each month, rising to 167.5 million a year.
The research found that over 50% of disposable vapes are thrown away, compared to 33% on average for all types of vapes. Single-use vapes are one of the most popular types of vapes to be bought alongside rechargeable vapes. 37% of people who bought vapes in the last year bought a single-use vape, and this increases to 52% for 18-34 year olds.
