The pilot was launched at the renowned retailer Anand Cheema’s ‘Costcutter – Fresh in Falkirk’ convenience store, an esteemed recipient of multiple awards. The store received a vape recycling bin, and starting from October, a total of 20 member stores of the Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) from various locations in Scotland will also take part in this initiative.
This pilot program serves as the initial phase of a long-term program. Dr Pete Cheema OBE expressed during the launch, “A key focus for the Scottish Grocers’ Federation is the promotion of responsible community retailing. This is why we appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with Elfbar in addressing the environmental damage caused by the improper disposal of single-use vaping products.”
Dr Cheema further stated, “We acknowledge that single-use vapes can serve as a stepping stone towards long-term vaping products for those attempting to quit smoking. However, it is crucial that they cease to appear in our streets and parks.” To facilitate customers, the participating stores will offer an in-store return point through a dedicated recycling bin for used vapes. Retailers will thus have a convenient waste and recycling option available.
“This marks the commencement of the Elfbar & SGF ‘Recycle Used Vapes’ Program. However, we will make another announcement during our upcoming SGF Annual Conference next month regarding waste and recycling options for these products. Convenience retailers will have the opportunity to sign up for these options during the two-day flagship event,” added Dr Cheema.
Anand Cheema, the store owner, expressed his enthusiasm for participating in the pilot program, affirming his commitment to reducing litter associated with single-use vaping products in his community. He declared, “As a convenience retailer, I am dedicated to contributing to the local environment by encouraging customers to use the in-store vape bin for their used vape products. This positive step forward has my full support.”
Eve Peters, the director of government affairs and spokesperson for Elfbar UK, welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with SGF for the expansion of their GreenAwareness recycling program. Peters added, “To date, our program has already covered 70 stores in England and Wales, with plans to further expand recycling bin coverage by the year’s end, including the 20 SGF member stores in Scotland as part of this pilot partnership. We have observed a significant rise in recycling points for used vapes in Scotland, and we have worked to extend our recycling effort into the convenience sector. Therefore, we will be making further announcements in partnership with SGF at the conference in October.”
The stores participating in the pilot will have their used vapes collected from recycling bins by Recover, a reputable UK lithium battery recycling company responsible for handling discarded devices in an environmentally conscious manner. These devices will be subsequently disassembled entirely by TES-AMM (Europe) Ltd, a certified recycling company based in Scotland.
The foremost aim of this program is to ensure the proper dismantling and recycling of raw materials, including plastics and batteries. Elfbar has committed to achieving a closed recycling loop by 2025, aligning with their dedication to environmental sustainability.
