Hopefully Vape initiative will not go up in a puff of smoke for this weekend’s ForestFest in Laois

ERP Ireland has teamed up with ForestFest, which takes place in Emo this weekend. As part of their 'Drop Beats, Not Vapes' campaign; the initiative is designed to encourage festivalgoers to dispose of vapes correctly.

Alongside this drive, the European Recycling Platform has also released new findings around Irish people and vapes usage and disposal.

As part of the ‘Drop Beats Not Vapes’ campaign, ERP Ireland have announced that it will bring its eco-art installation Trash EEE-lk to Forest Fest; a 13-foot-tall installation - pictured above - which was inspired by recent ERP research that found only 8 percent of respondents recycled vapes last year, with 6 percent admitting to holding onto unused devices.

Standing 13 feet tall and stretching over 16 feet in length, the striking Trash EEE-lk sculpture has quickly become one of Ireland’s most recognisable environmental art installations. Created by renowned Irish artist Ned Leddy who designs installations for Glastonbury, Electric Picnic, Body & Soul among others, the structure which appeared at St.Patrick’s Festival and Kaleidoscope comprises over 1,000 discarded electrical items and components; its intention being to serve as a powerful reminder that everyday items such as vapes which are also electrical, contain batteries and should never be binned but properly recycled.

Commonly used at music festivals and outdoor events, vapes pose a growing challenge when disposed of incorrectly - presenting fire hazards in bin lorries and at waste management facilities, whilst contributing to environmental pollution. Recycled correctly, critical materials such as lithium, often discarded in vapes, could instead be recovered and reused to power everyday devices, including mobile phones and laptops.

A recent published Coyne Research Study found the following about Ireland' s relationship with vapes:

- 21% of respondents own vapes, yet only 8% say they recycle them

- 13% admit to putting vapes in the general waste bin in the past year 

- 1 in 10 respondents have an unused vape at home 

- More than 1 in 3 now recognise that vapes should be disposed of in a battery recycling box

- 1 in 8 people have switched to reusable vapes due to the impending disposable vape ban, rising to 1 in 4 among Gen Z.

Discussing the environmental/vape push Ellie Dowling, Sustainability Manager at Forest Fest said:

“At Forest Fest, sustainability is about taking practical steps that make a real difference. From reducing emissions and protecting biodiversity to improving waste management and encouraging responsible behaviours, we are constantly looking for ways to lessen our environmental impact and engage our community in that journey.” He continued:

“Trash EEE-lk is a great example of that approach. We're delighted to be partnering on this initiative to help festivalgoers dispose of vapes correctly and keep electronic waste out of general waste bins. It’s an important awareness campaign that complements our wider sustainability goals and will help support our plans to phase out disposable vapes at the festival in the future. By working together with our attendees, traders, and partners, we can continue building a greener, more responsible festival for everyone.” 

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme