WEEE

Pink vape discarded on a beach
Single-use vape ban takes effect across UK from 1 June

A UK-wide ban on the sale and supply of single-use vapes comes into force this weekend (1 June 2025), making it illegal for businesses to stock, sell or offer disposable vaping devices across all retail channels.


From Sunday, it is illegal for businesses to sell or supply single-use vapes, extending to stocking single-use vapes to sell or supply. The legislation applies to all single-use vapes regardless of nicotine content, covering both online and physical retail outlets.

Workers disposing of vapes
Retailer take-back schemes must expand for post-ban vapes

Material Focus warns that big puff and pod models could undermine June legislation benefits without sufficient steps to improve current recycling systems

Battery Recycling Conference & Expo
Trans-World Events announces line-up for e-waste conferences

Four specialised expos at Frankfurt Messe will feature over 130 speakers addressing critical challenges in resource recovery, regulatory compliance and circular economy

Waste fire
European trade bodies call for action against battery fires
By
Beth Jones
| 20 May 2025 |
European Commission urged to implement new regulations to curb the growing number of lithium battery incidents in recycling facilities across the continent
Ball of cables
Material Focus launches Circular Electricals Fund
By
Beth Jones
| 14 May 2025 |
Up to £150,000 per project is offered to organisations demonstrating solutions in material recovery, product design, and business models to reduce e-waste in the UK
Altilium battery cell
Recycled EV battery materials pass industrial-scale testing
By
Beth Jones
| 13 May 2025 |
Altilium’s EcoCathode material demonstrates less than one per cent variation from commercial benchmarks at UK Battery Industrialisation Centre trials
Claudia Mensi, President of FEAD (the European Waste Management Association)
The Circular Economy Act must be bold! Europe's resilience depends on it
By
Claudia Mensi
| 12 May 2025 |
EU must prioritise circular economy to ensure material security and industrial resilience, writes Claudia Mensi, President of FEAD
Apple iPhone being repaired
New data-led approach shows how electronics reuse cuts emissions
By
Beth Jones
| 29 April 2025 |
Methodology produced by consortium working with German telecoms industry operators including Vodafone, highlights real world impact of reusing smartphones and laptops
Cardboard packaging with RFID tag
PackUK eases 'red' and 'amber' ratings for Recyclability Assessment Methodology
By
Beth Jones
| 29 April 2025 |
New exemptions for all DRS-covered containers included in RAM update, following simplification sprint with stakeholders
Firefighter extinguishing a fire in the back of a refuse collection vehicle
ESA calls for universal kerbside collection of batteries and electricals
By
Charles Newman
| 28 April 2025 |
Research shows mandatory collections could prevent 85 per cent of waste fires and save £6bn over a decade
Two people sorting usable food at a foodbank in Hackney
North London community fund awards £168,111 to waste prevention projects
By Resource |
25 April 2025 |
20 organisations receive grants to tackle waste streams through grassroots initiatives across seven boroughs
Mark Jacquemin at E-Waste World 2024
Circular electronics conference to explore repair and reuse strategies
By
Beth Jones
| 16 April 2025 |
The event at Messe Frankfurt will showcase strategies for extending device lifespans and improving materials recovery across the electronics sector
Volunteers and staff gathered for launch of Hammersmith Library of Things
Library of Things secures £20,000 Viridor funding for UK expansion
By Resource |
14 April 2025 |
Not-for-profit to launch national incubator programme helping communities establish borrowing hubs across the country
kerbside recycling
WRAP publishes new carbon metric
By
Beth Jones
| 10 April 2025 |
CarbonWARM tool expands coverage to incorporate new waste streams, including WEEE, batteries, sanitary waste, and incinerator bottom ash
SATCoL's Corporate Donations photoshoot
Retailers reduce clothes waste through SATCoL partnership programme
By
Beth Jones
| 9 April 2025 |
Collaboration allows brands to repurpose unwanted inventory of textiles, electronics and home goods to raise funds for charitable aims
Bins next to UK Parliament
England’s household recycling rate rises to 44 per cent
By
Beth Jones
| 27 March 2025 |
Latest figures for 2023/24 reverses recent decline, but still remains below pre-pandemic levels
Board members at the launch of EcoGenesys
UK's largest WEEE compliance scheme REPIC rebrands to Ecogenesys
By Resource |
21 March 2025 |
Expanded service offering aims to address wider environmental regulations beyond traditional compliance areas
Car battery
Altilium produces first UK EV battery cells from recycled materials
By
Beth Jones
| 18 March 2025 |
Collaboration between clean technology firm partners and UKBIC demonstrates “full battery circularity” using recovered cathode materials from end-of-life vehicles
Pile of phones including Nokia, ZTE, Samsung and Apple devices
Estimated 184.4 million electronic devices are unused in UK homes
By
Beth Jones
| 18 March 2025 |
Research from Virgin Media O2 suggests that nearly 80 per cent of people bin unwanted electronics despite potential financial and environmental benefits from recycling
Granulated black mass from battery recycling piled in the foreground of a industrial recycling facility
EU classifies black mass as hazardous waste in updated list
By Resource |
7 March 2025 |
New requirements for battery-related waste aims to keep critical materials within European economy
Graeme Milne, Chief Executive of REPIC
Balancing Act: Opinion on UK waste electricals response
By
Graeme Milne, Chief Executive of REPIC
| 4 March 2025 |
Graeme Milne, Chief Executive of REPIC, shares views on Defra’s Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment consultation response
Cable markers
Cable Markers: Types and Their Applications in Different Installations
By Resource |
27 February 2025 |
Different types of markers serve specific environments from data centers to industrial settings
Material Recycling Facility
EC’s Clean Industrial Deal paves way for 2026 Circular Economy Act
By
Beth Jones
| 26 February 2025 |
Commission’s plan highlights role of critical material recycling, remanufacturing, and investment in infrastructure as key goals