Disposable vapes are being repurposed into powerbanks and sent to the Ukrainian front lines
Volunteers at Leeds Ukrainian Community Association (LUCA) recycle components, such as batteries and wires, from the discarded vapes to send to Ukraine to be turned into energy sources for soldiers in remote locations.
The recycled components are used to power drones, phones and night vision devices in the trenches.
Viacheslav Semeniuk, a LUCA trustee, said the repurposed vapes are used "as a light source and in cooking" adding, "this is sometimes the only source of power".
It is estimated 8.2 million vapes were being thrown away every week prior to the ban in the UK.
"It is a creative way to use these vapes," said Mr Semeniuk.
"We crack open the vape and pull out the battery, isolate the wires, and pack them into boxes".
Volunteers in Ukraine turn the dismantled disposables from LUCA into working energy supplies for soldiers.
"If we can utilise whatever is not needed any more and make it for free, why not?"
said Mr Semeniuk.
Disposable vapes are being turned into powerbanks for Ukrainian soldiers living on the front line.
