The City of Stirling is pushing for a nationwide vape disposal scheme and program to safely collect illegal e-cigarettes amid concerns discarded devices are putting waste workers and infrastructure at risk of fires.
At the city’s Tuesday night meeting, council unanimously supported a notice of motion put forward by councillor Daniela Ion calling for the chief executive and mayor to write to the State and Federal health authorities urging them to accelerate the introduction of safe disposal pathways for legal and illegal vapes.
Cr Ion’s motion also calls for the escalation of a national product stewardship scheme and amnesty collection program proposed by the WA Local Government Association.
“E-cigarettes, or vapes, continue to be a problematic waste item for local government,” Cr Ion said.
“As there is not yet a vape disposal option for individuals, many vapes are found littered in the environment, or disposed of in public bins or kerbside waste and recycling bins.”
The motion comes amid warnings that lithium-ion batteries inside vapes can ignite or explode if damaged, punctured or crushed during waste collection and processing.
The incidents can cause fires in bins, waste collection vehicles, transfer stations and material recovery facilities, putting the community at risk while potentially damaging waste infrastructure and disrupting services.
A study in February last year by WALGA found e-cigarettes had significant potential for recycling and resource recovery. The research was funded by the Waste Authority and conducted in partnership with the city
The study found more than 65 per cent of materials in the devices were recyclable, while a further 34 per cent could be recovered through energy recovery or converted into waste-derived fuel.
“While the study demonstrates that e-cigarettes can be effectively recycled and recovered, a nationally co-ordinated product stewardship scheme is required to provide a clear, consistent and appropriately funded end-of-life management pathway for these products,” the report states.
Until that scheme is established, the city report says interim State-funded collection and recovery options are needed to reduce the risks associated with disposal.
According to the report, WALGA is currently working with State and Federal governments to progress an amnesty collection program for the significant number of illegal vapes already in the community.
Discussions are at an early stage.
Letters advocating for the scheme will be sent to WA Health Minister Meredith Hammat, WA Department of Health director general Dr Shirley Brown, Federal Health and Ageing Minister Mark Butler, and Therapeutic Goods Administration head Professor Tony Lawler.