Collection, characterisation, and recycling potential of disposable vape pens in the UK

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The management of disposable vape waste lags behind, due to significant challenges associated with the complexity of the devices and their components. This study explores the prospects of recycling to foster sustainable practices in handling disposable vape pens, by setting up and analysing a vape recycling Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) scheme at Brunel University London. An external waste management company was contracted to oversee the scheme, with vape recycling bins placed across the campus. To augment participation and raise awareness about the initiative, a targeted campaign was launched. Analysis of collected vape waste revealed significant variability in collection rates across different collection points, with 67.9% of vapes collected belonging to two major brands. The scheme’s challenges centred on determining the recycling route for the collected vapes, due to safety concerns associated with Li-ion batteries, the only component that is recycled, and disassembling intricacies. On the positive side, policy and regulation are evolving in response to safety and environmental impacts associated with disposable vapes, with the UK planning to impose restrictions on their sales by 2025. Nonetheless, the management of existing disposable vape stock and inevitable wastage remains a complex challenge indicating the importance of educational programs, regulatory frameworks, and recycling infrastructures to effectively eliminate these problematic items from the market and enable the transition towards a sustainable future. disposable vape pens vape waste management waste electricals and electronic equipment (WEEE) recycling vape collection circular economy Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 1. Introduction Disposable vapes are electronic devices that simulate smoking, which are a substitute for traditional cigarette smoking. They are composed of a small lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery, which powers a heating element to vaporise the nicotine solution and a light-emitting diode (LED) light which illuminates as the user inhales. Since January 2021, there has been a notable increase in the consumption of disposable vapes among British 18-year-olds, rising from 0.4–54.8% by April 2022 (Tattan-Birch et al., 2023 ). As vapes do not expose a user to tar or carbon monoxide as cigarettes do, their use is encouraged by the National Health Service (NHS) of the UK as a nicotine replacement, who advise “ You're roughly twice as likely to quit smoking if you use a vape compared with other nicotine replacement products, like patches and gum ” (NHS, n.d.). This is seen as a move that could potentially reverse the nicotine addiction trends observed in the UK over the last two decades (Mendelsohn and Hall, 2023 ). The advice on the use of vapes issued by the NHS and Public Health England (PHE) has since evolved as the scale of vape use has grown rapidly in the past decade. The popularity surge in disposable vape use has grabbed the attention of the UK Government, which has initiated policies and regulations that focus on the potential health impacts and the high rate of disposable vape use among children (UK Parliament, 2023 ). This has inevitably placed less attention on their end-of-life management. Disposable vapes are classified as Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and must be processed accordingly. According to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE), disposable vape waste falls under category 7 - toys, leisure, and sports equipment (EA, 2023 ). The WEEE Directive requires manufacturers and distributors to either take back used ‘very small’ WEEE devices (less than 25cm on their longest side) or fund the equivalent takeback tonnage through the Distributor Takeback Scheme (DTS) or the Producer Compliance Scheme (PCS) for companies selling more than 5 tonnes of electrical equipment annually (GOV.UK, n.d.). Despite the risk of fines up to £5000, compliance with these environmental regulations has been low among producers and distributors. As a result, local authorities have been left to manage this rapidly growing and hazardous waste stream (Dennis, 2023 ). At present, they are largely mismanaged, with approximately 5 million devices being disposed of in landfills, littered or incinerated every week in the UK, equating to eight every second (Material Focus, 2023 ). Besides the lack of dedicated disposable vape collection schemes, their mismanagement can also be attributed to the hazardous chemical and electrical components of these devices that require specialised disassembly lines at an off-site recycling facility for their safe and effective handling. The lack of disassembling infrastructure lends itself to safety concerns regarding the handling of highly concentrated nicotine vape solutions and difficulties with removing the Li-ion battery. As a result of this exponential growth, policies governing the safety and regulation of vapes have required continual updating. Some countries like Australia and New Zealand have moved quickly, banning their sale completely in 2023, and other places such as Germany banned flavoured e-cigarettes to reduce their appeal to minors (ADF, 2024 ; Duboust, 2024 ). The UK government announced in January 2024 that disposable vapes would eventually be banned, though a timeframe for the ban has not been announced, yet. Restrictions on their sale are expected to come into force in early 2025, including the introduction of plain packaging, and restrictions on how vapes are displayed in shops to reduce the number of children taking up the habit (GOV.UK, 2024). Regardless of the sales bans, however, the issue of processing the huge volume of vape waste has not been properly addressed nor discussed (Richa et al., 2017 ). Motivated by increased media discourse surrounding the sale and marketing of disposable vapes, and focus on the health impacts of vape use, this study focuses on the end-of-life fate of disposable vapes. With a lack of evidence in the global academic and grey literature regarding disposable vape management, this study took on the challenge of investigating the use and management of disposable vapes in a closed and controlled environment. A higher education institution was considered an ideal test bed for exploring the use rate of disposable vapes and piloting their separate collection and management. Brunel University London (BUL) is an internationally renowned UK public research university with a single campus located in Uxbridge, West London. As of July 2022, approximately 4,500 students lived in on-campus accommodation situated on a 300-acre site (BUL, 2021 ). Although the number of vape users across BUL (including students, staff and visitors) is unknown, estimates from population data provided by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) were used indicating that vape users on campus are in the thousands (ASH, 2023 ). Therefore, using Brunel University London (BUL) as a case study, this study elucidates the approach used to set up a disposable vape waste recycling scheme and outlines the principles for selecting vape recycling bin installation locations. The data is analysed to illuminate the type and volume of vapes used, and the challenges associated with the sorting, and recycling of vapes to promote their sustainable management. 2. Methodology In October 2022, a plan was designed to set up a recycling scheme for disposable vape pens at the BUL. The BUL Estates Manager agreed to act as a collaborator on the project and support the role of the responsible person for this waste stream. Four installation sites were selected across the campus, as shown in Fig. 1 , ensuring visibility and indoor placement to prevent water damage and discourage users from disposing of traditional cigarettes in them (WRAP, 2021 ). As per university protocol, a risk assessment was conducted and four fire-retardant plastic vape bins, each with a capacity of 5-litre were purchased and clearly labelled (see Fig. A1 in Supplementary Material). These bins are designed to safely dispose of vape-related materials to mitigate fire hazards. Additionally, a Control of Substances Hazardous to Heath (COSHH) assessment was carried out (see Fig. A2 in Supplementary Material ), leading to the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE), for safeguarding individuals from potential exposure to hazardous substances present in vape fluids. A small sorting table and spill/cleanup kit containing alcohol spray and wipes were also assembled to minimise risks associated with accidental ingestion of toxic vape fluids and to facilitate organized handling and prompt cleanup of vape-related materials. Collection and characterisation protocols were designed and carried out over a six-month monitoring period, from launch on the 6th of February to the final monitored collection on the 18th of August 2023. All vape bins were emptied nine times across the entire duration of the project, with collections scheduled every three weeks. Triweekly collections were selected to strike a balance, ensuring that the bins were not overfilled before collection day (a risk of monthly collections), while also ensuring that the vapes were visible inside each bin, to attract attention and stimulate usage. A local staff member was appointed for each location, responsible for ensuring the proper use of the bins and preventing unauthorised emptying or misuse. The author retained responsibility for emptying, collection and characterisation in terms of vape model and bin location throughout the project. The layout and characteristics of bin locations are provided in Table 1 . Table 1 Layout and characteristics of each bin location Bin Location Room size Floor Access Hours Thoroughfare Footfall traffic Concourse Hall Medium (75m 2 -150m 2 ) Ground Weekdays 8am-8pm Weekends 10am-6pm No High Bannerman Large (> 150m 2 ) Ground 24 hour access (Weekdays 8:30am-7pm, Weekends 12pm-7pm)* Yes High SU Office Small ( 150m 2 ) Ground Weekdays 8am-6pm Closed at weekends Yes Medium *The Bannerman Building is open 24 hours during term times, with reduced hours during holiday periods. Following the collection, disposable vape waste was sorted in a space outside the hazardous waste storage area on campus. The sorting and data collection process (raw data are presented in Fig. B1 in Supplementary Material ) was carried out to characterise the vapes according to brand and model. This allowed for the recording of quantifiable data to identify the type of vapes used, based on location. After sorting and recording the data in an Excel workbook, the vape waste was securely stored in a locked plastic container within the hazardous waste storage area, awaiting periodic transport to Hillingdon Recycling Centre. The BUL Estates team was responsible for collecting vape waste and transporting it from the hazardous waste storage area to the Recycling Centre. Before the launch of the recycling scheme, in January 2023, an advertising campaign was launched using printed posters (see Fig. A3 in Supplementary Material), social media (see Fig. A4 in Supplementary Material), email notifications and electronic noticeboards, designed by the authors, aimed at encouraging students and staff to dispose of their vape waste appropriately using the recycling scheme. The advertising campaign included key information regarding all collection points and aimed at raising awareness on the recyclable nature of disposable vapes and the importance of separate collection for aiding the proper recycling of these devices, the environmental impact of failing to recycle disposable vapes, and how and where individuals could recycle their used vapes across campus with clearly signposted bin locations. The complete timeline of the project is depicted in Fig. 2 , which shows that the vape recycling scheme was implemented from February 2023 to August 2023. A statistical analysis was carried out by using significance tests to examine whether there is a significant difference between the number of vapes collected at each bin location. Specifically, we employed the Kruskal-Wallis H test, a nonparametric method, since the data collected do not follow normal distribution (MacFarland and Yates, 2016 ). The null hypothesis (H 0 ) tested whether there was no statistically significant difference in the number of disposable vapes collected across locations at a significance level of 0.01, corresponding to a 99% confidence. Statistical analysis was performed using Excel. 3. Results A total of 1352 disposable vapes were collected over the six-month monitoring period, resulting in an average collection rate of approximately 50 vapes per week (detailed descriptive statistics are presented in Table B1 in Supplementary Material ). Figure 3 presents the number of vape waste collected during the monitoring period, providing details for each collection time and bin location (see data on Table B2 in Supplementary Material ). As shown in Fig. 3a , the bins with the highest collection rate were those installed in the Bannerman Foyer (464 vapes in total) and Concourse Hall Reception (572) bins, followed by the Eastern Gateway (184) and the SU Office bin (132). The number of vapes collected during each collection varied considerably over time, with a range of 277 between the highest total quantity collection on the 18th of August (346) and the lowest quantities on the 17th of February and the 31st of March (69). It must be highlighted that the high number of vapes recorded for the August 18th collection point, is largely attributed to a staggering 210 vapes disposed of by a student in a cardboard box at the Concourse student reception. This data point could be considered a statistical outlier. If we were to exclude this outlier ( Fig. 3b ), August would see significantly lower collection rate. This is expected, since students are away from campus during the summer period, whereas May’s collection was the highest as also expected as this is the end of term and assessment month when all students are on campus. It must also be noted that between the 31st of March and the 5th of May, the collection took place five weeks apart, instead of three. This was due to the Easter break that resulted in a limited to almost zero disposable vape collection. Figure 4 , depicts the distribution of collected vapes at each bin location across the collection periods. This variability resulted in an interquartile range of 41 and a standard deviation of 88, indicating substantial fluctuations in collection amounts. The number of the campus-based population is variable throughout the academic year due to term breaks, student activities, and the presence of sports teams and international visitors in onsite accommodations. The result of the Kruskal-Wallis H Test showed a statistically significant difference in the quantity (number) of vapes collected between bin (collection points) locations, with a 99% confidence level (see Table B3 in Supplementary Material ). Table 2 shows the descriptive statistics of vapes across collections, showing that the two most used collections were the Bannerman Building foyer (mean of 51.56 vapes per collection) followed by the Concourse Hall (mean of 40.22 vapes per collection). This is the case even after excluding the outlier of 210 vapes disposed of in the Concourse Hall, indicating that it remains a significant collection point; otherwise, it would be the most used collection point. The high coefficient of variation shown in Table 2 , shows that the number of vapes amassed in each collection point varied greatly across the collection period, suggesting bin locations with high footfall traffic, attracted more vape donations. Table 2 Descriptive statistics of disposable vapes across collections for each bin location. Descriptive statistics of vapes across collections Concourse Hall Bannerman SU Office Eastern Gateway Mean 40.22 (63.56 * ) 51.56 14.67 20.44 Standard deviation 21.67 (86.36 * ) 20.99 8.12 18.62 Coefficient of variation 0.54 (1.36 * ) 0.41 0.55 0.91 * It includes the outlier of 210 vapes disposed of by a student at the Concourse Hall in 18th of August Following the collection of vape waste, its characterisation was carried out the results of which are illustrated in Fig. 5 . The figure displays the most popular brands and models of collected disposable vapes at BUL, with internal cycles showing the brand and the external models. In total, 53 different brands and models were collected, each with unique design specifications. Among these varieties, the top three most collected models were the ElfBar600 (519 vapes collected), the Lost Mary BM600 (363 vapes collected), and the SKE crystal (170 collected), whereas the remaining 50 models collectively accounted for 22.2% of vapes of the total vapes collected. The design specifications of the top-selling disposable vape models in the UK are readily accessible online, allowing for a detailed examination of their specifications and the manufacturing companies. Further details on the battery capacity and types (i.e. lithium-ion or unknown), for the 8 most frequently collected vape models during the scheme are provided in the Supplementary Material (see Table B4 ). At least 71.89% of the vapes collected contain a confirmed lithium battery, although the actual percentage is likely higher due to unclosed battery information by some brands. There was also a large variation in battery capacities across models, with vapes like the ElfBar600 and Lost Mary BM600 featuring smaller 350mAh batteries, while models like the ELUX Legend 3500 boasted a larger 1500mAh capacity, designed to support extended use. These larger vape models, such as the ELUX Legend 3500 and Lost Mary BM3500, advertise solution tank capacities (up to 10.5ml) capable of delivering 3500 'puffs', exceeding the UK's legal limit of 2ml for nicotine solution tanks (GOV.UK, 2016 ). This discrepancy suggests that these vapes are either illegally sold in the UK or imported from countries with higher legal limits, potentially due to the international student population at BUL. The collected data also revealed the presence of illegal vapes, including non-nicotine vapes dispensing Cannabis oil-infused fluid, which are prohibited under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Despite the data not specifying the source of these illegal vapes, it highlights a concerning lack of regulation in the UK vape market, with over 5% of disposable vapes collected at BUL falling into the category of potentially illegal for sale. To ensure the recycling of disposable vape pens, the BUL Estates Department has established an agreement with the waste management contractor responsible for processing much of the electrical waste generated on campus. The contractor collected the disposable vape waste, to transfer to an external partner company. Unfortunately, the partner site did not have an Environment Agency-compliant recycling route and declined to process the vapes collected at BUL. The collected vapes were instead processed at an electrical waste recycling specialist based in Kent. 4. Discussion The result of the disposable vape waste collection rate underscores the importance of strategically locating vape recycling bins to achieve high collection rates. The Bannerman Foyer, situated at the entrance of the main student library, was identified as a high-footfall area due to the frequent student traffic accessing the library. Similarly, the Concourse Hall, home to the Student Living Office Reception, experiences high traffic from students living on campus and is closest in proximity to most of the student accommodation. In contrast, the Eastern Gateway, which includes lecture theatres, the main auditorium, and a small cafe, was expected to have a high collection rate but did not. This could be due to the building situated at the northern edge of the campus and it houses the offices of high-ranking academic staff, leading students to leave the area quickly after lectures. This is unlike the Bannerman and Concourse Buildings, which are near student gathering areas. The Student Union Office, containing a small workspace for SU staff and a shop selling university-branded merchandise, tends to attract students with specific queries or needs, thus seeing less casual traffic. This variation in collection rates across different locations highlights how the popularity of bin locations is influenced by their proximity to student activities and high-traffic areas. This data allows for further exploration into factors that affect the effectiveness of vape waste collection. The disposal habits of vape users likely differ significantly from those of traditional cigarette users. The data outlier observed during the August collection point provides valuable insights into user disposal habits, suggesting that used vapes may be accumulated over time and then deposited in bulk at recycling bins. This observation aligns with recent estimates indicating that nearly 3 million disposable vapes are stockpiled monthly in UK households (Material Focus, 2023 ). Household hoarding of unwanted electrical devices is a known issue. The Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) estimates that the average UK household contains 5 kg of unused small electrical devices intended for disposal (WRAP, 2021 ). These redundant items represent a significant reservoir of valuable materials that remain outside the recycling stream, which could be processed and reused in an ideal circular economy. Similarly, some disposable vapes are likely stored at home once the nicotine solution is spent, with estimates suggesting that 3 million of the 20 million sold each month are stockpiled (Material Focus, 2023 ). This could be due to the lack of awareness of proper vape disposal methods. Reports indicate that 70% of people inappropriately discard their disposable vapes because they are unaware that these devices can be recycled (Material Focus, 2023 ). This points to the fact that the lack of disposal information is crucial to instigating the right disposal practices. The fact that the packaging of popular vape brands fails to provide clear guidance on disposal is a significant oversight. Stricter regulations on vape packaging could help inform users about the environmental damage caused by improper disposal and the waste of valuable resources these devices represent. Research shows that educating the public on where and how to recycle increases the likelihood that individuals will utilize recycling options (Qui and Fan, 2021). Furthermore, disposable vapes are not designed for easy disassembly, a crucial step in the recycling process. The Li-ion batteries within these vapes pose a significant fire risk during waste processing. When these batteries are physically damaged, they can short circuit, causing a rise in cell temperature and triggering a chain reaction of exothermic events that release flammable gases—a phenomenon known as thermal runaway (Shahid and Agelin-Chaab, 2022 ). A waste processing site near the BUL campus experienced three fires in the last six months of 2022, with disposable vapes identified as the cause (Meddings, 2023). This increased fire risk has necessitated the installation of expensive fire safety equipment, such as automatic foam sprayers, and has led to higher insurance costs. These additional expenses and safety concerns are likely to deter companies from processing battery-containing devices like vapes (Smulian, 2023 ). The difficulty in securing a recycling centre willing to process the collected vapes, along with evidence of fires at waste processing facilities linked to disposable vapes, underscores the significant challenges presented by the rising disposable vape waste. Under controlled conditions, the Li-ion battery cells can be manually extracted and recycled, while the remaining parts, such as the plastic casing, nicotine chamber, and heating element, are usually incinerated. Although it would have been environmentally preferable to recycle the entire device (Kang et al., 2013 ), components which have direct contact with the toxic nicotine solution are not practical to recycle, or may require specialist hazardous waste processing equipment (Hughes and Hendrickson, 2019 ). Unfortunately, no additional information about the specific recycling procedure is available. This lack of detail can be attributed to the evolving nature of recycling technology, as well as the reluctance of external parties to divulge concerns about potential competition from other facilities aiming to replicate their successful technology. This raises concerns regarding the capacity of recycling infrastructure to cope with the sheer volume of disposable vapes sold in the UK, especially considering the safety, handling and disassembly complications of processing the huge variety of vape models available on the UK market. The methodology used in this study has proven effective, yet future research could enhance these findings by incorporating questionnaires to further investigate the habits of typical disposable vape users and their awareness of the environmental impacts caused by these products. During the six-month monitoring period of the collection scheme, an impressive 1,352 disposable vape pens were diverted from landfills or littering. This number is likely even higher as the scheme continues to operate. This achievement represents a significant step towards sustainable waste management in a closed environment. The initiative not only prevents disposable vapes from entering residual waste streams but also raises awareness and fosters environmental stewardship. By addressing both the disposal and the behavioural aspects, the scheme contributes to a more comprehensive understanding and management of electronic waste. 5. Conclusions This research establishes a valuable template for large-scale disposable vape recycling in the United Kingdom. It outlines the steps for setting up a disposable vape recycling scheme, running a targeted advertising campaign, and exploring the challenges waste management companies encounter when recycling these devices. The findings from this study, using BUL as a testbed, can inform and improve other small electrical recycling campaigns. The anticipated disposable vape ban in the UK is a welcome development, as a significant number of vapes are already in circulation or within households, necessitating proper disposal or recycling procedures. The trend of fast technology disposal could have devastating environmental, economic and societal impacts, contradicting our goals for a sustainable and circular economic model. Ultimately, this research advances sustainable waste management practices and emphasises the need for responsible consumption and disposal of electronic devices. It serves as a call to action for individuals and institutions to prioritise environmental stewardship in the face of rapid technological advancements. Declarations Author contributions JM: Conceptualization; Data curation; Formal analysis; Investigation; Methodology; Visualisation; Writing – original draft. SG: Data curation; Visualisation; Writing - review & editing. EI: Conceptualization; Data curation; Formal analysis; Investigation; Methodology; Writing - original draft; Writing - review & editing; Project administration; Supervision. Funding No funding was received to assist with the preparation of this manuscript. Declaration of competing interest The author declares that he has no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. 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Available: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/81/health-and-social-care-committee/news/196579/impose-heavier-restrictions-on-disposable-vapes-to-limit-child-use-urges-committee/ [Accessed 10 April 2024]. WRAP. 2021. Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Collection Guide [Online]. Available: https://wrap.org.uk/sites/default/files/2021-04/WEEE-collection-guide-March2021.pdf.pdf [Accessed 10 April 2024]. Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files Supplementaryinformationmaterial.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-4450514","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":314879157,"identity":"0647905e-5ff0-4d59-91cd-b0c393ab6cf3","order_by":0,"name":"Joseph Main","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Brunel University London","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Joseph","middleName":"","lastName":"Main","suffix":""},{"id":314879158,"identity":"a611c8a9-ba64-479c-964b-03473c651e74","order_by":1,"name":"Spyridoula Gerassimidou","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Brunel University London","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Spyridoula","middleName":"","lastName":"Gerassimidou","suffix":""},{"id":314879159,"identity":"95de65b1-c1fc-45a3-b701-a9f08c695d3e","order_by":2,"name":"Eleni Iacovidou","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"","institution":"Brunel University London","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Eleni","middleName":"","lastName":"Iacovidou","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2024-05-20 17:38:27","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4450514/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4450514/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":58702062,"identity":"33689389-183d-4e8f-9909-7e392b476139","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-06-20 04:04:44","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":184895,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInstallation waste collection points of disposable vape pens across the BUL campus\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"image1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4450514/v1/8ac60f67e9ddf657bf16c60d.png"},{"id":58702058,"identity":"5344949c-a1af-4b27-b5f6-c46db00d5bff","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-06-20 04:04:44","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":60568,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe timeline of the project of the recycling scheme for disposable vape pens in BUL, including planning, launch and action phases by month\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"image2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4450514/v1/c9a39a18d7ea85e4c4f3c24d.png"},{"id":58702474,"identity":"2f9760a6-2d6a-4b5b-ba46-5080835d2fcb","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-06-20 04:12:44","extension":"png","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":104086,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of vapes collected at BUL across the scheme timeline for each bin location. This number represents the cumulative sum of vapes collected from all bin locations on the specific date. a) Data includes the outlier of 210 vapes disposed of by a student at the Concourse Hall; b) Data excluding the outlier of 210 vapes.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"image3.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4450514/v1/9acb16a3731b2836f6312870.png"},{"id":58702057,"identity":"d6409606-14d6-4341-91c8-01acace92213","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-06-20 04:04:44","extension":"png","order_by":4,"title":"Figure 4","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":22626,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDistribution of the number of vapes compiled across the collection periods, at each bin location.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"image4.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4450514/v1/e7056b2778c030e47792cc89.png"},{"id":58702060,"identity":"9393f370-44f8-4357-bfea-2b955c12dfe4","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-06-20 04:04:44","extension":"png","order_by":5,"title":"Figure 5","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":89503,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMost popular vape makes and models collected across the vape recycling scheme.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"image5.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4450514/v1/760d4b6cb131a8c10451b3e3.png"},{"id":63379896,"identity":"2fb79c44-2366-44d7-84c9-cee4e5a024b0","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-08-27 13:32:56","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1011012,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4450514/v1/d7cf41db-1a43-425a-9107-e521c1933d3f.pdf"},{"id":58702475,"identity":"4666ff0a-dba2-4ef6-97eb-25deb8259ab1","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-06-20 04:12:44","extension":"docx","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":1193633,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Supplementaryinformationmaterial.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4450514/v1/c86e213354cccf7b2c2137b4.docx"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Collection, characterisation, and recycling potential of disposable vape pens in the UK","fulltext":[{"header":"1. Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eDisposable vapes are electronic devices that simulate smoking, which are a substitute for traditional cigarette smoking. They are composed of a small lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery, which powers a heating element to vaporise the nicotine solution and a light-emitting diode (LED) light which illuminates as the user inhales. Since January 2021, there has been a notable increase in the consumption of disposable vapes among British 18-year-olds, rising from 0.4\u0026ndash;54.8% by April 2022 (Tattan-Birch et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). As vapes do not expose a user to tar or carbon monoxide as cigarettes do, their use is encouraged by the National Health Service (NHS) of the UK as a nicotine replacement, who advise \u0026ldquo;\u003cem\u003eYou're roughly twice as likely to quit smoking if you use a vape compared with other nicotine replacement products, like patches and gum\u003c/em\u003e\u0026rdquo; (NHS, n.d.). This is seen as a move that could potentially reverse the nicotine addiction trends observed in the UK over the last two decades (Mendelsohn and Hall, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). The advice on the use of vapes issued by the NHS and Public Health England (PHE) has since evolved as the scale of vape use has grown rapidly in the past decade. The popularity surge in disposable vape use has grabbed the attention of the UK Government, which has initiated policies and regulations that focus on the potential health impacts and the high rate of disposable vape use among children (UK Parliament, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). This has inevitably placed less attention on their end-of-life management.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisposable vapes are classified as Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and must be processed accordingly. According to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE), disposable vape waste falls under category 7 - toys, leisure, and sports equipment (EA, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). The WEEE Directive requires manufacturers and distributors to either take back used \u0026lsquo;very small\u0026rsquo; WEEE devices (less than 25cm on their longest side) or fund the equivalent takeback tonnage through the Distributor Takeback Scheme (DTS) or the Producer Compliance Scheme (PCS) for companies selling more than 5 tonnes of electrical equipment annually (GOV.UK, n.d.). Despite the risk of fines up to \u0026pound;5000, compliance with these environmental regulations has been low among producers and distributors. As a result, local authorities have been left to manage this rapidly growing and hazardous waste stream (Dennis, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). At present, they are largely mismanaged, with approximately 5\u0026nbsp;million devices being disposed of in landfills, littered or incinerated every week in the UK, equating to eight every second (Material Focus, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). Besides the lack of dedicated disposable vape collection schemes, their mismanagement can also be attributed to the hazardous chemical and electrical components of these devices that require specialised disassembly lines at an off-site recycling facility for their safe and effective handling. The lack of disassembling infrastructure lends itself to safety concerns regarding the handling of highly concentrated nicotine vape solutions and difficulties with removing the Li-ion battery.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAs a result of this exponential growth, policies governing the safety and regulation of vapes have required continual updating. Some countries like Australia and New Zealand have moved quickly, banning their sale completely in 2023, and other places such as Germany banned flavoured e-cigarettes to reduce their appeal to minors (ADF, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e; Duboust, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e). The UK government announced in January 2024 that disposable vapes would eventually be banned, though a timeframe for the ban has not been announced, yet. Restrictions on their sale are expected to come into force in early 2025, including the introduction of plain packaging, and restrictions on how vapes are displayed in shops to reduce the number of children taking up the habit (GOV.UK, 2024). Regardless of the sales bans, however, the issue of processing the huge volume of vape waste has not been properly addressed nor discussed (Richa et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e). Motivated by increased media discourse surrounding the sale and marketing of disposable vapes, and focus on the health impacts of vape use, this study focuses on the end-of-life fate of disposable vapes. With a lack of evidence in the global academic and grey literature regarding disposable vape management, this study took on the challenge of investigating the use and management of disposable vapes in a closed and controlled environment.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA higher education institution was considered an ideal test bed for exploring the use rate of disposable vapes and piloting their separate collection and management. Brunel University London (BUL) is an internationally renowned UK public research university with a single campus located in Uxbridge, West London. As of July 2022, approximately 4,500 students lived in on-campus accommodation situated on a 300-acre site (BUL, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e). Although the number of vape users across BUL (including students, staff and visitors) is unknown, estimates from population data provided by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) were used indicating that vape users on campus are in the thousands (ASH, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). Therefore, using Brunel University London (BUL) as a case study, this study elucidates the approach used to set up a disposable vape waste recycling scheme and outlines the principles for selecting vape recycling bin installation locations. The data is analysed to illuminate the type and volume of vapes used, and the challenges associated with the sorting, and recycling of vapes to promote their sustainable management.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"2. Methodology","content":"\u003cp\u003eIn October 2022, a plan was designed to set up a recycling scheme for disposable vape pens at the BUL. The BUL Estates Manager agreed to act as a collaborator on the project and support the role of the responsible person for this waste stream. Four installation sites were selected across the campus, as shown in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, ensuring visibility and indoor placement to prevent water damage and discourage users from disposing of traditional cigarettes in them (WRAP, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAs per university protocol, a risk assessment was conducted and four fire-retardant plastic vape bins, each with a capacity of 5-litre were purchased and clearly labelled (see \u003cb\u003eFig. A1\u003c/b\u003e in \u003cem\u003eSupplementary Material).\u003c/em\u003e These bins are designed to safely dispose of vape-related materials to mitigate fire hazards. Additionally, a Control of Substances Hazardous to Heath (COSHH) assessment was carried out (see \u003cb\u003eFig. A2\u003c/b\u003e in \u003cem\u003eSupplementary Material\u003c/em\u003e), leading to the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE), for safeguarding individuals from potential exposure to hazardous substances present in vape fluids. A small sorting table and spill/cleanup kit containing alcohol spray and wipes were also assembled to minimise risks associated with accidental ingestion of toxic vape fluids and to facilitate organized handling and prompt cleanup of vape-related materials.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCollection and characterisation protocols were designed and carried out over a six-month monitoring period, from launch on the 6th of February to the final monitored collection on the 18th of August 2023. All vape bins were emptied nine times across the entire duration of the project, with collections scheduled every three weeks. Triweekly collections were selected to strike a balance, ensuring that the bins were not overfilled before collection day (a risk of monthly collections), while also ensuring that the vapes were visible inside each bin, to attract attention and stimulate usage. A local staff member was appointed for each location, responsible for ensuring the proper use of the bins and preventing unauthorised emptying or misuse. The author retained responsibility for emptying, collection and characterisation in terms of vape model and bin location throughout the project. The layout and characteristics of bin locations are provided in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLayout and characteristics of each bin location\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"6\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBin Location\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRoom size\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFloor\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAccess Hours\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThoroughfare\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFootfall traffic\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eConcourse Hall\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMedium (75m\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e-150m\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGround\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWeekdays 8am-8pm\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWeekends 10am-6pm\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHigh\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBannerman\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLarge (\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;150m\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGround\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24 hour access\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e(Weekdays 8:30am-7pm, Weekends 12pm-7pm)*\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHigh\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSU Office\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSmall (\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;75m\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGround\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWeekdays 9:30am-5:30pm\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eClosed at weekends\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLow\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEastern Gateway\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLarge (\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;150m\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGround\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWeekdays 8am-6pm\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eClosed at weekends\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMedium\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e*The Bannerman Building is open 24 hours during term times, with reduced hours during holiday periods.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFollowing the collection, disposable vape waste was sorted in a space outside the hazardous waste storage area on campus. The sorting and data collection process (raw data are presented in \u003cb\u003eFig. B1\u003c/b\u003e in \u003cem\u003eSupplementary Material\u003c/em\u003e) was carried out to characterise the vapes according to brand and model. This allowed for the recording of quantifiable data to identify the type of vapes used, based on location. After sorting and recording the data in an Excel workbook, the vape waste was securely stored in a locked plastic container within the hazardous waste storage area, awaiting periodic transport to Hillingdon Recycling Centre. The BUL Estates team was responsible for collecting vape waste and transporting it from the hazardous waste storage area to the Recycling Centre.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBefore the launch of the recycling scheme, in January 2023, an advertising campaign was launched using printed posters (see \u003cb\u003eFig. A3\u003c/b\u003e in Supplementary Material), social media (see \u003cb\u003eFig. A4\u003c/b\u003e in Supplementary Material), email notifications and electronic noticeboards, designed by the authors, aimed at encouraging students and staff to dispose of their vape waste appropriately using the recycling scheme. The advertising campaign included key information regarding all collection points and aimed at raising awareness on the recyclable nature of disposable vapes and the importance of separate collection for aiding the proper recycling of these devices, the environmental impact of failing to recycle disposable vapes, and how and where individuals could recycle their used vapes across campus with clearly signposted bin locations.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe complete timeline of the project is depicted in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e, which shows that the vape recycling scheme was implemented from February 2023 to August 2023.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA statistical analysis was carried out by using significance tests to examine whether there is a significant difference between the number of vapes collected at each bin location. Specifically, we employed the Kruskal-Wallis H test, a nonparametric method, since the data collected do not follow normal distribution (MacFarland and Yates, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e). The null hypothesis (H\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e) tested whether there was no statistically significant difference in the number of disposable vapes collected across locations at a significance level of 0.01, corresponding to a 99% confidence. Statistical analysis was performed using Excel.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"3. Results","content":"\u003cp\u003eA total of 1352 disposable vapes were collected over the six-month monitoring period, resulting in an average collection rate of approximately 50 vapes per week (detailed descriptive statistics are presented in \u003cb\u003eTable B1\u003c/b\u003e in \u003cem\u003eSupplementary Material\u003c/em\u003e). Figure\u0026nbsp;3 presents the number of vape waste collected during the monitoring period, providing details for each collection time and bin location (see data on \u003cb\u003eTable B2\u003c/b\u003e in \u003cem\u003eSupplementary Material\u003c/em\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs shown in \u003cb\u003eFig.\u0026nbsp;3a\u003c/b\u003e, the bins with the highest collection rate were those installed in the Bannerman Foyer (464 vapes in total) and Concourse Hall Reception (572) bins, followed by the Eastern Gateway (184) and the SU Office bin (132). The number of vapes collected during each collection varied considerably over time, with a range of 277 between the highest total quantity collection on the 18th of August (346) and the lowest quantities on the 17th of February and the 31st of March (69). It must be highlighted that the high number of vapes recorded for the August 18th collection point, is largely attributed to a staggering 210 vapes disposed of by a student in a cardboard box at the Concourse student reception. This data point could be considered a statistical outlier. If we were to exclude this outlier (\u003cb\u003eFig.\u0026nbsp;3b\u003c/b\u003e), August would see significantly lower collection rate. This is expected, since students are away from campus during the summer period, whereas May\u0026rsquo;s collection was the highest as also expected as this is the end of term and assessment month when all students are on campus. It must also be noted that between the 31st of March and the 5th of May, the collection took place five weeks apart, instead of three. This was due to the Easter break that resulted in a limited to almost zero disposable vape collection.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFigure\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e, depicts the distribution of collected vapes at each bin location across the collection periods. This variability resulted in an interquartile range of 41 and a standard deviation of 88, indicating substantial fluctuations in collection amounts. The number of the campus-based population is variable throughout the academic year due to term breaks, student activities, and the presence of sports teams and international visitors in onsite accommodations.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe result of the Kruskal-Wallis H Test showed a statistically significant difference in the quantity (number) of vapes collected between bin (collection points) locations, with a 99% confidence level (see \u003cb\u003eTable B3\u003c/b\u003e in \u003cem\u003eSupplementary Material\u003c/em\u003e). Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e shows the descriptive statistics of vapes across collections, showing that the two most used collections were the Bannerman Building foyer (mean of 51.56 vapes per collection) followed by the Concourse Hall (mean of 40.22 vapes per collection). This is the case even after excluding the outlier of 210 vapes disposed of in the Concourse Hall, indicating that it remains a significant collection point; otherwise, it would be the most used collection point. The high coefficient of variation shown in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e, shows that the number of vapes amassed in each collection point varied greatly across the collection period, suggesting bin locations with high footfall traffic, attracted more vape donations.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDescriptive statistics of disposable vapes across collections for each bin location.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDescriptive statistics of vapes across collections\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eConcourse Hall\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBannerman\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSU Office\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEastern Gateway\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMean\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40.22 (63.56\u003csup\u003e*\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e51.56\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.67\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20.44\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eStandard deviation\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21.67 (86.36\u003csup\u003e*\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20.99\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18.62\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCoefficient of variation\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.54 (1.36\u003csup\u003e*\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.41\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.55\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.91\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"5\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003csup\u003e*\u003c/sup\u003e It includes the outlier of 210 vapes disposed of by a student at the Concourse Hall in 18th of August\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFollowing the collection of vape waste, its characterisation was carried out the results of which are illustrated in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e. The figure displays the most popular brands and models of collected disposable vapes at BUL, with internal cycles showing the brand and the external models. In total, 53 different brands and models were collected, each with unique design specifications. Among these varieties, the top three most collected models were the ElfBar600 (519 vapes collected), the Lost Mary BM600 (363 vapes collected), and the SKE crystal (170 collected), whereas the remaining 50 models collectively accounted for 22.2% of vapes of the total vapes collected.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe design specifications of the top-selling disposable vape models in the UK are readily accessible online, allowing for a detailed examination of their specifications and the manufacturing companies. Further details on the battery capacity and types (i.e. lithium-ion or unknown), for the 8 most frequently collected vape models during the scheme are provided in the \u003cem\u003eSupplementary Material\u003c/em\u003e (see \u003cb\u003eTable B4\u003c/b\u003e). At least 71.89% of the vapes collected contain a confirmed lithium battery, although the actual percentage is likely higher due to unclosed battery information by some brands. There was also a large variation in battery capacities across models, with vapes like the ElfBar600 and Lost Mary BM600 featuring smaller 350mAh batteries, while models like the ELUX Legend 3500 boasted a larger 1500mAh capacity, designed to support extended use.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThese larger vape models, such as the ELUX Legend 3500 and Lost Mary BM3500, advertise solution tank capacities (up to 10.5ml) capable of delivering 3500 'puffs', exceeding the UK's legal limit of 2ml for nicotine solution tanks (GOV.UK, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e). This discrepancy suggests that these vapes are either illegally sold in the UK or imported from countries with higher legal limits, potentially due to the international student population at BUL. The collected data also revealed the presence of illegal vapes, including non-nicotine vapes dispensing Cannabis oil-infused fluid, which are prohibited under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Despite the data not specifying the source of these illegal vapes, it highlights a concerning lack of regulation in the UK vape market, with over 5% of disposable vapes collected at BUL falling into the category of potentially illegal for sale.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo ensure the recycling of disposable vape pens, the BUL Estates Department has established an agreement with the waste management contractor responsible for processing much of the electrical waste generated on campus. The contractor collected the disposable vape waste, to transfer to an external partner company. Unfortunately, the partner site did not have an Environment Agency-compliant recycling route and declined to process the vapes collected at BUL. The collected vapes were instead processed at an electrical waste recycling specialist based in Kent.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"4. Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe result of the disposable vape waste collection rate underscores the importance of strategically locating vape recycling bins to achieve high collection rates. The Bannerman Foyer, situated at the entrance of the main student library, was identified as a high-footfall area due to the frequent student traffic accessing the library. Similarly, the Concourse Hall, home to the Student Living Office Reception, experiences high traffic from students living on campus and is closest in proximity to most of the student accommodation. In contrast, the Eastern Gateway, which includes lecture theatres, the main auditorium, and a small cafe, was expected to have a high collection rate but did not. This could be due to the building situated at the northern edge of the campus and it houses the offices of high-ranking academic staff, leading students to leave the area quickly after lectures. This is unlike the Bannerman and Concourse Buildings, which are near student gathering areas. The Student Union Office, containing a small workspace for SU staff and a shop selling university-branded merchandise, tends to attract students with specific queries or needs, thus seeing less casual traffic. This variation in collection rates across different locations highlights how the popularity of bin locations is influenced by their proximity to student activities and high-traffic areas. This data allows for further exploration into factors that affect the effectiveness of vape waste collection.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe disposal habits of vape users likely differ significantly from those of traditional cigarette users. The data outlier observed during the August collection point provides valuable insights into user disposal habits, suggesting that used vapes may be accumulated over time and then deposited in bulk at recycling bins. This observation aligns with recent estimates indicating that nearly 3\u0026nbsp;million disposable vapes are stockpiled monthly in UK households (Material Focus, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). Household hoarding of unwanted electrical devices is a known issue. The Waste \u0026amp; Resources Action Programme (WRAP) estimates that the average UK household contains 5 kg of unused small electrical devices intended for disposal (WRAP, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e). These redundant items represent a significant reservoir of valuable materials that remain outside the recycling stream, which could be processed and reused in an ideal circular economy. Similarly, some disposable vapes are likely stored at home once the nicotine solution is spent, with estimates suggesting that 3\u0026nbsp;million of the 20\u0026nbsp;million sold each month are stockpiled (Material Focus, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). This could be due to the lack of awareness of proper vape disposal methods. Reports indicate that 70% of people inappropriately discard their disposable vapes because they are unaware that these devices can be recycled (Material Focus, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). This points to the fact that the lack of disposal information is crucial to instigating the right disposal practices. The fact that the packaging of popular vape brands fails to provide clear guidance on disposal is a significant oversight. Stricter regulations on vape packaging could help inform users about the environmental damage caused by improper disposal and the waste of valuable resources these devices represent. Research shows that educating the public on where and how to recycle increases the likelihood that individuals will utilize recycling options (Qui and Fan, 2021).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFurthermore, disposable vapes are not designed for easy disassembly, a crucial step in the recycling process. The Li-ion batteries within these vapes pose a significant fire risk during waste processing. When these batteries are physically damaged, they can short circuit, causing a rise in cell temperature and triggering a chain reaction of exothermic events that release flammable gases\u0026mdash;a phenomenon known as thermal runaway (Shahid and Agelin-Chaab, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). A waste processing site near the BUL campus experienced three fires in the last six months of 2022, with disposable vapes identified as the cause (Meddings, 2023). This increased fire risk has necessitated the installation of expensive fire safety equipment, such as automatic foam sprayers, and has led to higher insurance costs. These additional expenses and safety concerns are likely to deter companies from processing battery-containing devices like vapes (Smulian, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). The difficulty in securing a recycling centre willing to process the collected vapes, along with evidence of fires at waste processing facilities linked to disposable vapes, underscores the significant challenges presented by the rising disposable vape waste.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnder controlled conditions, the Li-ion battery cells can be manually extracted and recycled, while the remaining parts, such as the plastic casing, nicotine chamber, and heating element, are usually incinerated. Although it would have been environmentally preferable to recycle the entire device (Kang et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e), components which have direct contact with the toxic nicotine solution are not practical to recycle, or may require specialist hazardous waste processing equipment (Hughes and Hendrickson, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e). Unfortunately, no additional information about the specific recycling procedure is available. This lack of detail can be attributed to the evolving nature of recycling technology, as well as the reluctance of external parties to divulge concerns about potential competition from other facilities aiming to replicate their successful technology. This raises concerns regarding the capacity of recycling infrastructure to cope with the sheer volume of disposable vapes sold in the UK, especially considering the safety, handling and disassembly complications of processing the huge variety of vape models available on the UK market.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe methodology used in this study has proven effective, yet future research could enhance these findings by incorporating questionnaires to further investigate the habits of typical disposable vape users and their awareness of the environmental impacts caused by these products. During the six-month monitoring period of the collection scheme, an impressive 1,352 disposable vape pens were diverted from landfills or littering. This number is likely even higher as the scheme continues to operate. This achievement represents a significant step towards sustainable waste management in a closed environment. The initiative not only prevents disposable vapes from entering residual waste streams but also raises awareness and fosters environmental stewardship. By addressing both the disposal and the behavioural aspects, the scheme contributes to a more comprehensive understanding and management of electronic waste.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"5. Conclusions","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis research establishes a valuable template for large-scale disposable vape recycling in the United Kingdom. It outlines the steps for setting up a disposable vape recycling scheme, running a targeted advertising campaign, and exploring the challenges waste management companies encounter when recycling these devices. The findings from this study, using BUL as a testbed, can inform and improve other small electrical recycling campaigns.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe anticipated disposable vape ban in the UK is a welcome development, as a significant number of vapes are already in circulation or within households, necessitating proper disposal or recycling procedures. The trend of fast technology disposal could have devastating environmental, economic and societal impacts, contradicting our goals for a sustainable and circular economic model. Ultimately, this research advances sustainable waste management practices and emphasises the need for responsible consumption and disposal of electronic devices. It serves as a call to action for individuals and institutions to prioritise environmental stewardship in the face of rapid technological advancements.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor contributions\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJM:\u003c/strong\u003e Conceptualization; Data curation; Formal analysis; Investigation; Methodology; Visualisation; Writing – original draft.\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;SG:\u003c/strong\u003e Data curation; Visualisation; Writing - review \u0026amp; editing.\u0026nbsp;\u003cstrong\u003eEI:\u003c/strong\u003e Conceptualization; Data curation; Formal analysis; Investigation; Methodology; Writing - original draft; Writing - review \u0026amp; editing; Project administration; Supervision.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo funding was received to assist with the preparation of this manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDeclaration of competing interest\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe author declares that he has no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgements\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe author gratefully acknowledges the financial support provided by the Brunel University London Estates Department for the set-up costs of the vape recycling scheme.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eData availability\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eData will be made available on request. See the supplementary information document for the data summary.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eADF. 2024. Changes to vaping rules in Australia [Online]. Available: https://adf.org.au/insights/vaping-changes-australia/ [Accessed 10 April 2024].\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eASH. 2023. Use of e-cigarettes among young people in Great Britain [Online]. Available: https://ash.org.uk/resources/view/use-of-e-cigarettes-among-young-people-in-great-britain [Accessed 10 April 2024].\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBUL. 2021. Stategic Planning [Online]. Available: https://www.brunel.ac.uk/about/information/pdf/Facts-and-Figures-2020-21.pdf [Accessed 10 April 2024].\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDennis, P. 2023. 5 million disposable vapes thrown away per week \u0026ndash; research [Online]. 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Available: https://www.materialfocus.org.uk/press-releases/disposable-single-use-vapes-thrown-away-have-quadrupled-to-5-million-per-week/ [Accessed 10 April 2024].\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMendelsohn, C. P., \u0026amp; Hall, W. (2023). What are the harms of vaping in young people who have never smoked? \u003cem\u003eInternational Journal of Drug Policy, 117\u003c/em\u003e, 104064. \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNHS. n.d. Vaping to quit smoking [Online]. Available: https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/vaping-to-quit-smoking/ [Accessed 10 April 2024].\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRicha, K., Babbitt, C. W., \u0026amp; Gaustad, G. (2017). Eco‐efficiency analysis of a lithium‐ion battery waste hierarchy inspired by circular economy. \u003cem\u003eJournal of Industrial Ecology, 21\u003c/em\u003e(3), 715-730. \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShahid, S., \u0026amp; Agelin-Chaab, M. (2022). A review of thermal runaway prevention and mitigation strategies for lithium-ion batteries. \u003cem\u003eEnergy Conversion and Management: X, 16\u003c/em\u003e, 100310. \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSmulian, M. 2023. Insurance firm says bin lorry fires increase along with vape use [Online]. Available: https://www.mrw.co.uk/news/insurance-firm-says-bin-lorry-fires-increase-along-with-vape-use-18-07-2023/ [Accessed 10 April 2024].\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTattan‐Birch, H., Jackson, S. E., Kock, L., Dockrell, M., \u0026amp; Brown, J. (2023). Rapid growth in disposable e‐cigarette vaping among young adults in Great Britain from 2021 to 2022: a repeat cross‐sectional survey. \u003cem\u003eAddiction, 118\u003c/em\u003e(2), 382-386. \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUK Parliament. 2023. Impose heavier restrictions on disposable vapes to limit child use, urges Committee [Online]. Available: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/81/health-and-social-care-committee/news/196579/impose-heavier-restrictions-on-disposable-vapes-to-limit-child-use-urges-committee/ [Accessed 10 April 2024].\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWRAP. 2021. Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Collection Guide [Online]. Available: https://wrap.org.uk/sites/default/files/2021-04/WEEE-collection-guide-March2021.pdf.pdf [Accessed 10 April 2024].\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"disposable vape pens, vape waste management, waste electricals and electronic equipment (WEEE) recycling, vape collection, circular economy","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4450514/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4450514/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eSince 2021, there has been a notable increase in the consumption of disposable vapes among British adults. The management of disposable vape waste lags behind, due to significant challenges associated with the complexity of the devices and their components. This study explores the prospects of recycling to foster sustainable practices in handling disposable vape pens, by setting up and analysing a vape recycling Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) scheme at Brunel University London. An external waste management company was contracted to oversee the scheme, with vape recycling bins placed across the campus. To augment participation and raise awareness about the initiative, a targeted campaign was launched. Analysis of collected vape waste revealed significant variability in collection rates across different collection points, with 67.9% of vapes collected belonging to two major brands. The scheme\u0026rsquo;s challenges centred on determining the recycling route for the collected vapes, due to safety concerns associated with Li-ion batteries, the only component that is recycled, and disassembling intricacies. On the positive side, policy and regulation are evolving in response to safety and environmental impacts associated with disposable vapes, with the UK planning to impose restrictions on their sales by 2025. Nonetheless, the management of existing disposable vape stock and inevitable wastage remains a complex challenge indicating the importance of educational programs, regulatory frameworks, and recycling infrastructures to effectively eliminate these problematic items from the market and enable the transition towards a sustainable future.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Collection, characterisation, and recycling potential of disposable vape pens in the UK","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2024-06-20 04:04:39","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4450514/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"5d4071f9-3276-401a-ac95-224749c0ac8e","owner":[],"postedDate":"June 20th, 2024","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2024-08-27T13:24:49+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2024-06-20 04:04:39","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-4450514","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-4450514","identity":"rs-4450514","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"qtupq5eGEP_6zYnWcrvyt","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}