Council vows to step up on vape recycling
A retired teacher has taken a bag of used vapes to a Havant council meeting as a ‘show and tell’ as she tried to make her feelings known.
Councillor Grainne Rason (Green, Emsworth) said the disposal e-cigarettes look like sweets, are bright in colour to attract children, come in a variety of flavours and feared they could open a gateway to encourage smoking and drug use.
The used vape collection was part of her litterpicking campaign as she tried to clear the streets and Emsworth Park of rubbish.
After the meeting, she said: “Walking along the Emsworth Bridge Road towards the park, I see them in the bushes and hedges, cans of drink and vapes on the road and where kids hang out. On a typical day, I can collect four or five. Other people collect and give them to me to recycle.”
There was cross-party agreement at the Havant Borough Council meeting (March 20) where a motion to do more with recycling of vapes and hard plastics in Havant was suggested.
The motion was introduced by Cllr Andy Briggs (Con, Cowplain) and seconded by Cllr Imogen Payter (Con, St Faith’s).
Cllr Briggs said nationally five million disposable vapes are thrown away each week, and research shows vape chemicals have caused 700 lorry bin and waste recycling centre fires.
The meeting also heard that Havant Borough only has 14 collection points for disposable vapes and the council will look at how that can be increased.
Cllr Rason said disposable vapes should be returned to the place they were bought for recycling. It is the responsibility of the manufacturer, instead it’s been made the job of the council, which is spending money on cleaning them up, she said.
Cllr Rason said: “Eight million people took part in a litter pick last year because people do not like litter.
“The first bit of litter is the worst piece because it says this is OK.
“The more litter you pick, the less litter you get.”
She added: “Litter picking is important to help teach children about taking responsibility for clearing up after themselves.”
I see them in the bushes and hedges, cans of drink and vapes on the road and where kids hang out