With the UK’s ban on single-use nicotine vapes coming into effect this weekend, fears are high that stockpiles will be ditched on mass, leading to a surge in waste and fire risk.
More than 8.2million disposable vapes are used weekly in the UK, leading to 15,600 tonnes of waste annually. Now hopes are pinned on a new artificial intelligence [AI] sorting system which is 100 times faster than manual processes and 50% cheaper.
The platform automatically separates materials like plastics, metals and lithium batteries. 1 tonne of vapes can be processed per hour, or around 28,000 individual vapes, far exceeding the 200 vapes that can be sorted by humans. Some of these substances can then be reused as a renewable energy source, with estimates suggesting VP Recycling’s approach could produce enough electricity to power 10,000 electric vehicles per year.
‘The UK vape waste situation was bad enough before the ban was first mentioned but we are ready to deal with the June 1st legislation and alleviate the immediate danger worries of stockpiled vapes being carelessly thrown away,’ said Mark Ennis, Sales Director at VP Recycling. ‘Our streamlined AI facility not only reduces costs but also maximises the quality and efficiency of the recycling effort.
‘The batteries we recover are undamaged and can either be sent back to manufacturers for reuse in new vapes or recycled to create recycled energy for the future,’ he continued. ‘The illegal market has already introduced devices with larger batteries and higher puff counts, making it even more critical to have the infrastructure to prevent environmental harm. Recycling vapes will not only keep our planet safe but can turn a potential hazard and problem into new reusable energy for the future.’
Image: Vaporesso / Unsplash
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