A new initiative to use kerbside collections, bins at household waste recycling centres, and other public drop-off points for vape recycling has been launched across Oxfordshire.
Published: Wednesday, 6th December 2023
Cherwell District Council has announced a new vape recycling service, in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council, and Oxford City Council to provide new recycling services across the county.
The new recycling services aim to prevent the disposal of single-use vapes in litter bins, general waste or mixed recycling where they can contaminate other recycling and, in some instances, cause fires in bin trucks or waste facilities.
The Recycle Your Vapes campaign will:
- Add up to 60 new recycling collection points for vapes at small retailers, shopping areas, bars and cafes across Oxford, Banbury, Bicester and Kidlington. Look out for the three-feet high, clear plastic tube vape recycling collection points. The tubes have bright pink recycle your vapes posters and images of vapes on the posters.
- Introduce a new separate kerbside collection for vapes in Cherwell.
- And provide new public recycling bright pink bins at each of the seven household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) in Oxfordshire.
Councillor Andrew McHugh, Portfolio Holder for Cleaner and Greener Communities, said: “We're always looking at developing ways to make it easier for residents to dispose of their waste appropriately and recycle more.
“We are pleased to offer residents the option to recycle disposable vapes in addition to other small electrical items at the kerbside. All residents need to do is place the vapes in a clear plastic bag on top of their blue or green bin on collection day, it’s important not to dispose of these items in the green or blue bins as the batteries can, and have, caused serious fires.”
New vape recycling points in public spaces offer convenient and easy access for recycling vapes. This is one of more than 40 UK projects funded by Material Focus, the not for profit leading the Recycle Your Electricals campaign who have provided over £40,000 for Oxfordshire to lead the way by recycling vapes. The funding is part of a wider initiative to make it easier for 10 million UK residents to recycle their electricals.
The new bright pink bins were installed at household waste recycling centres on Wednesday 29 November.
The Material Focus Electricals Recycling Fund is making it easier for consumers to recycle their electricals. The projects that have been funded by Material Focus include a variety of recycling methods, from kerbside collections to more drop-off points in schools, community centres and bring banks. Overall, there will be over 400 new collection points plus kerbside collections for 5.5 million UK residents.
To find your nearest recycling point search recycle your electricals or the council’s Waste Wizard search tool.