Talking Retail Grocery and product news for independent retailers
Talking about vape recycling at stores, One Stop retailer Sunder Sandher said: “[It’s about] showing our customers we are responsible retailers. We are recycling all the vapes that are coming back in store. So I think it’s a good thing and I’ve heard it’s going to be compulsory this year.”
A Defra spokesperson expanded on the changes, saying: “Since 2006 all retailers with stores selling vapes have had a duty under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations to provide a take-back service on a one-for-one basis to their customers.
“However, until this year retailers of vapes have had the option instead to join the Distributor Take-back Scheme (DTS) which raises funds to support local WEEE recycling initiatives and alleviates the obligation to provide a take-back service themselves.
“The government is currently consulting on proposals to reform the existing WEEE Regulations with the aim of driving up levels of separately collected WEEE for reuse and recycling.”
Defra is also proposing plans under WEEE Regulations to ensure vape producers pay the full cost of their devices’ disposal and some retailers, such as Sue Nithyanandan, who runs a Costcutter store in Epsom, are already working with their suppliers on this.
During the podcast, Nithyanandan said: “I’ve done over 100 kgs, sent back for recycling so far. It doesn’t cost me anything, our supplier has arranged it.
“I print a label out and hand it at the post office, it’s very easy to do, it’s just getting people on board.”
One Stop’s John Miller added: “At one stop, we’ve just rolled out all our recycling units to our company stores. And we’re about to launch that into all of our franchises if those retailers haven’t already got a process in place.
“Along with that, we’ll also be launching other electrical collection and batteries and so on. We’re just finalising the details now.”
The podcast ‘The future of vaping’ is chaired by Independent Retail News editor David Shrimpton and the panel of respected industry professionals includes: One Stop’s Head of Franchise John Miller, One Stop retailer Sunder Sandher, director of communications for the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) Chris Noice and independent retailer Sue Nithyanandan.
