A Cheshire-based company has launched a recycling system for lithium-ion waste it claims will “change the game” for management of discarded vapes.
Liberty Recycling Solutions (LRS) said its automated process prevented “hazardous exposure” related to manual methods of recycling electronic cigarettes.
Vapes commonly use lithium-ion batteries, as do many other types of rechargeable devices.
However many of these items are disposed of incorrectly, leading to loss of key materials as well as heightened fire risk.
LRS said its recycling process shredded vapes in a controlled, inert environment, capturing harmful electrolytes and gases while recovering metals, plastics and other components.
Co-founder Tim Marlow said he was “incredibly proud” to champion enhanced sustainability for lithium-ion batteries.
“The global impact of lithium mining, combined with a total lack of end-of-life solutions for so many products, meant [we] could no longer stand and see the rest of the industry take no action,” he added. “So we decided to do it ourselves.”
Fellow co-founder Nicholas Stillwell said: “We are not just changing the game; we are redefining it.”
