Norwich City Council has backed a motion to introduce a mandatory deposit scheme on disposable vapes, proposing a £5 fee per device to address fire hazards and environmental damage. The plan would require buyers to pay an extra £5 at the point of sale, refundable when the vape is returned for proper disposal.
Public Safety Concerns Drive Proposal
James Wright, former Norwich City Council mayor and leader of the Liberal Democrats group, emphasised the safety risks. “This is about public safety and it is putting workers at risk,” he said. “Councils are bearing the cost of dangerous fires, contaminated recycling, and clean-up, with these costs ultimately falling on local taxpayers. We also face growing environmental harm from littered and discarded vape devices.”
Wright highlighted the danger of lithium batteries in bins, stating, “I think most people don't realise how dangerous it is to throw a lithium battery in a bin. We need a system that makes things right in the long term but raising awareness is definitely something councils should be doing in the short term.”
Support from Fire Service
Group manager Rob Curtis, protection lead for Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service, expressed support for the initiative. “We support anything that leads to the safe disposal of vapes and other items that contain lithium-ion batteries,” he said.
Legal Context and Enforcement
The motion is set to be debated on Tuesday. It is already illegal for businesses to sell, supply, or offer single-use vapes in England, with penalties including unlimited fines or up to two years in prison. Local Trading Standards authorities enforce the ban. The deposit scheme would complement existing regulations by incentivising proper disposal and reducing the number of discarded devices that pose fire and environmental risks.
