Vero Beach, FL – October 1st, Indian River County will officially launch a public outreach campaign to encourage residents, as well as retail suppliers, to properly dispose of vape pens preventing them from entering the waste and recycling stream. “These pens contain lithium-ion batteries known to explode and cause fires when compressed in hauling vehicles or buried in the landfill,” said Himanshu Mehta, Managing Director, Solid Waste Disposal District (SWDD).
Between 2013 and 2020, the EPA reported 245 fires caused by these batteries in landfills and hauling trucks. Currently, Indian River County offers a variety of options for proper disposal of many types of rechargeable batteries, but no viable option for vape pen batteries. Worse, these pens are mixed with other hazardous materials that need to be separated, such as nicotine and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), making them difficult to recycle and dispose of properly.
The SWDD staff, with the support of local schools, the sheriff’s department, the fire department, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is partnering with GAIACA Waste
Revitalization, a sustainability provider who specifically handles hazardous
materials to launch the new Vape Pen Collection program.
This program encourages residents to properly dispose of vape pens at one of the Five Customer Convenience Centers, the Main County Landfill, or at a participating retail store. For specific information regarding these locations, visit www.indianriver.gov . This service will provide a viable option for collection while eliminating waste and recycling stream contamination and increasing awareness of the situation. Vape pen usage has increased by over 1,000% between 2019 and 2020, and the demand for lithium is projected to increase fivefold by 2030, exasperating the problem. This program will give residents a viable option for proper disposal and increased awareness through education and outreach. For more information contact: Sue Flak at 772-226-3206.
