Scottish Grocers’ Federation and Elfbar are to roll-out a pilot programme that provides a fully-funded recycling scheme for used vapes.
The pilot was launched today (25 September) at Anand Cheema’s ‘Costcutter – Fresh in Falkirk’ convenience store, where he took receipt of a vape recycling bin.
The programme will see a total of 20 SGF member stores from across Scotland participating, beginning from October. The pilot marks the first step of a long-term programme.
The stores participating in the pilot will have their used vapes in recycling bins collected by Recover, a UK lithium battery recycling company, to responsibly handle the discarded devices. The products are then 100% disassembled by TES-AMM (Europe), an AATF-certified recycling company, in Scotland. The programme is designed to ensure the raw materials are properly dismantled and recycled, including plastics and the battery, as part of Elfbar’s commitment to the delivery of a closed recycling loop by 2025.
SGF Chief Executive Pete Cheema said: “A key focus for Scottish Grocers’ Federation is the promotion of responsible community retailing. That is why we value the opportunity to work in partnership with Elfbar to address the environmental damage done by single-use vaping products if they are not disposed of responsibly.
“SGF recognise however that single-use vapes can also be a gateway to long-term vaping products for those quitting smoking, but that they must stop appearing in our streets and parks. Stores participating in the pilot will be able to offer customers a return point in-store through a recycling bin for used vapes and retailers will be provided with a convenient waste and recycling option as part of this.”
The trade body will make further announcements about the programme at its annual conference next month.
Store owner, Anand Cheema, said: “I am delighted to participate in the pilot programme and to be able to offer my customers an in-store return point, through the vape bin, for their used vape products.
“As a convenience retailer, I want to play my part in reducing the littering associated with single-use, vaping products which in turn will benefit our local environment. This is a positive step forward and one which I fully support.”
Eve Peters, Director of Government Affairs and spokesperson for Elfbar UK, added: “Recycling points for used vapes have increased significantly in Scotland in recent months and we have worked to extend our recycling effort into the convenience sector, therefore we will be making further announcements in partnership with the SGF at the conference in October.”
