Councillors in Norwich have backed calls for the government to introduce a mandatory minimum £5 deposit on every vape device, with the money refunded when the device is returned for recycling, as part of efforts to tackle growing waste and fire risks from discarded vapes.
The motion, tabled by the council’s Liberal Democrats, was approved unanimously at a meeting of Norwich City Council on 30 June after councillors accepted an amendment from the Green Group before passing the motion without opposition.
Under the proposal, the council will write to the government urging it to introduce a mandatory deposit return scheme for vapes, including a minimum £5 refundable deposit on each device, a requirement for retailers to accept returns regardless of where the product was purchased, and clearer labelling and public information to support the scheme.
The motion also calls on ministers to strengthen action to prevent bin and recycling fires by closing what councillors described as the loophole allowing disposable-style rechargeable vapes to remain on the market following last year's ban on single-use vapes, alongside introducing mandatory retailer take-back schemes and stronger producer responsibility for recycling costs.
Councillors said more than six million vapes and pods continue to be discarded every week despite the disposable vape ban, with lithium-ion batteries causing an increasing number of fires in refuse lorries, recycling centres and waste facilities. The motion argues that councils are bearing the financial burden of these incidents through environmental clean-up and damage to waste infrastructure.
Locally, the amended motion commits the council to work with Norfolk County Council and waste contractors to strengthen public messaging, improve the handling of vape waste, increase the number of advertised vape and battery recycling points, review fire risks linked to waste collection and processing, and run public awareness campaigns on safe disposal.
The council will also seek a report within six months covering the scale of vape-related waste in Norwich, incidents suspected to be linked to bin or recycling fires, progress on influencing national policy and updates on local action with partner organisations.
The motion follows concerns over fires caused by lithium-ion batteries in discarded vapes, including a major blaze at a recycling facility in Costessey earlier this month that disrupted bin collections across Norwich.
The proposal echoes calls made last month by waste management company Biffa and the Environmental Services Association for a mandatory UK-wide vape deposit scheme, with industry leaders suggesting a deposit of up to £5 per device to encourage returns and reduce fires caused by discarded lithium-ion batteries.