Motion to tax vapes for recycling fund unanimously backed by Leitrim County Council

A motion to further tax vapes received unanimous support at November’s meeting of Leitrim County Council.

Cllr Irene Guckian-Rabbitte asked the Council to write to the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to request that a tax be imposed on vapes and that the money raised be ring-fenced for the further recycling of electrical items and WEEE days.

A vape tax was already included in the Budget, with a tax of 50c per ml, excluding VAT, applied to vape liquids, and disposable vapes rising from €8 to €9.23, including VAT, from November 1.

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Cllr Guckian-Rabbitte said she recently learned that disposable vapes are classified as electrical waste and that many people might not realize this. Concerned about the potential impacts on the environment and wildlife, she said, “They contain batteries which contain heavy metals and can be quite toxic. You can’t throw them into a normal bin.”

Vapes contain metals such as lead, nickel, and chromium, and their batteries are lithium-ion. She said she wants to draw attention to the fact that vapes are electrical waste items. “It’s very important that people realise what they are and dispose of them correctly,” she added.

Her motion was unanimously supported by elected members of Leitrim County Council.

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