A recycling centre for vapes has been launched in Stevenage in a bid to stop them damaging the environment.

VPZ, the UK’s largest vaping retailer, has teamed up with waste management provider WasteCare to set up the service in 150 UK locations, including at their Queensway store in the town centre.

Vapes contain lithium batteries and plastic which can harm the environment, when disposed of incorrectly, but the two businesses hope their ambitious plans can make an impact.

"We are excited to be launching this ground-breaking service with WasteCare to respond to an emerging environmental issue," said VPZ director Doug Mutter.

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"Any form of littering is unacceptable however the proliferation of disposable vape use has led to single-use devices being discarded in local environments.

"Our partnership with WasteCare responds to this challenge head on and vapers can come into our network of over 150 stores throughout the country, including Stevenage, to recycle their vape devices, both disposable and reusable, in a safe and responsible way.

"Our service will also help us engage with adult smokers and vapers to educate them on the sustainable and environmental benefits of using reusable products."

All recycling processes will be handled by WasteCare, which will be responsible for safely collecting, treating, and recovering disposable vapes and reusable hardware devices from within its plant in Elland, West Yorkshire.

"With the growing demand for vapes and e-cigarettes, we are delighted that VPZ is leading the way in providing a safe and environmentally sound way to tackle what is becoming a major challenge," said Peter Hunt, managing director of Wastecare.

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"WasteCare is the UK’s only permitted recycler of portable batteries. Every vape contains a lithium battery and our plant is designed to safely recover the precious material from the vaping device, as well as the metal and plastic components in it."

Doug also urged the Government to crack down on the sale of vapes, adding: "This is an emerging problem that threatens the huge progress of vaping in transforming the health of the nation and helping the country meet its smoke-free targets.

"We are urging the UK Government to act now and follow best practices from countries like New Zealand, where flavoured products can only be sold from specialist licensed vaping stores.

"Thus, ensuring that an appropriate challenge 25 policy is in place and consultation is aimed towards adult smokers and vapers."