People who throw old vapes away in the bin at home risk starting a fire, Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Ireland have warned. 

The company has estimated that while 25 million vapes in Ireland are sold every year, a mere 1.5 million of those are recycled. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, CEO Leo Donovan said the sale of vapes has “really accelerated” in recent years and getting more people to recycle them is a “big challenge” for the industry. 

“Under an EU regulation, we have to be getting back 65% of all electronic products sold on the market,” he said. 

“Look, we're only getting back about 6% of the vapes and it's very important, not only from an environmental point of view to get back all electronic products, we also have a requirement to get back 63% of all batteries that are placed on the market.”

Single use disposable vapes lying discarded on the road. Picture by: Richard Newton / Alamy Stock Photo. 

In 2023, the EPA estimated that only 42% of municipal waste was recycled in Ireland. 

It means the State is likely to miss an EU recycling target of 60% and be fined a large sum by the European Commission. 

“We have a deficit of critical raw materials in Europe,” Mr Donovan explained. 

“So, it is a big push by the EU Commission; it's part of the circular economy initiative that we've just recently issued out here in Ireland. 

“And that is to get the mindset of the public, thinking of sustainability, think of circularity and think of the future generations.

“If we throw away these critical raw materials, then we won't have them for future manufacturing of new products.”

A person vaping. Picture by: PA Wire/PA Images. 

Even if recycling was not an issue, Mr Donovan added that there are huge safety concerns about the incorrect disposal of vapes. 

“But when it comes to the vapes, the vapes also have a particular hazard in relation to the potential to cause fires,” he said. 

“That's the key message we want to get out today; do not bin your vapes into your ordinary waste bin or your dry recycling bin that you have at home.

“Make sure you bring it back to a specific collection point, be it a battery recycling box. 

“You see a lot of the wee Ireland blue battery boxes around; anybody who sells a vape or sells a battery has a legal obligation to take back that product free of charge.”

The HSE notes that "best thing you can do for your health is not to smoke or vape" and offers free support and advice to those wishing to quit.

Main image: A man holding disposable vapes. Picture by: Ian Davidson / Alamy Stock Photo.