FIVE million disposable vapes are being thrown away every week, campaigners claim.
Just one in six of the seven million sold every week is properly recycled, according to Material Focus.
The rest are being dumped in bins or tossed away — despite being a fire risk and harmful to wildlife and the environment.
Material Focus says the figures show all retailers selling disposable vapes should take back old ones when new ones are purchased.
Director Scott Butler said: “We need rapid growth in the number of accessible and visible vape recycling drop-off points.”
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The five million being thrown away is four times the 1.3million of last year.
Three-quarters of vapers admit they do not recycle the plastic puffing devices.
And one in three teenage vapers dump them in bins at work, school or college.
But the devices contain batteries that are toxic if not disposed of properly — and the cost of getting rid of them falls on councils.
The UK Vaping Industry Association insists it is working to educate customers on the need to recycle.