Do you know how to deal with Head Lice?

DAME Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England, said:- "Head lice and nits are a common issue, especially among young children and families in close contact with 1 another.Once detected, there is no need to consult a GP, but treatment should begin immediately and all household members should be checked and treated to stop further spread. The NHS.UK head lice and nits advice page provides the latest advice to manage the condition and help keep any outbreaks of head lice and nits under control."

The NHS page provides Information on different treatments such as:- wet combing using conditioner and a special fine toothed comb, as well as tips on using medicated lotions and sprays available from pharmacies, supermarkets and online.

It recommends wet combing as the most effective way of treating and preventing head lice by:-

• Washing hair with ordinary shampoo.
   

• Smothering hair in any type of conditioner.
   

• Combing the whole head from root to tip with a special fine toothed detection comb available from pharmacists or online.
   

• Repeating this process on days:- 1, 5, 9 and 13, to catch any newly hatched head lice.
   

• Checking again that everyone is lice free on day 17.

The NHS website is the UK's biggest health website with an estimated 2.6 million visits a day in 2022 from people seeking information and advice.

It includes over 4,000 pages and provides information about 990 medical conditions as well other health services including:- applying for a free UK Global Health Insurance Card for healthcare cover abroad, finding a GP, and a pregnancy due date calculator.

For more information visit the head lice and nits advice page on the NHS website.

Vape Away - Expert advice on disposing of single use vapes

SINCE launching, single use vapes have taken the UK by storm, becoming a popular choice for many. However, their rapid rise in popularity is causing concern for the environment, as most people are unaware of the proper disposal methods and whether disposable vapes can be recycled.

Following the recent news, that Ministers plan to ban single-use vapes, following outcry from Councils, leading paediatricians and the public.

Waste Managed, the industry leading waste management company, is sharing its expert knowledge on how to dispose of single-use vapes safely and responsibly.

Vape Disposal Statistics 2023... In 2023, an astonishing 69% of vapes used in the UK are disposable, a significant increase from 52% in 2022 and a mere 7% in 2021.

Shockingly, 138 million disposable vapes were sold in the UK in 2022, containing enough lithium to power approximately 1,200 electric vehicle batteries. These numbers continue to grow in 2023.

Alarming statistics show that over 1.3 million disposable vapes end up in UK landfills every week, with approximately 2 vapes being discarded every second.

Around 30% of vapes are recycled, contributing to around 59,650 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually in the UK, although this represents just 0.66% of the global vape CO2 emissions, which stand at 9 million tonnes.

Can You Recycle Disposable Vapes? Simply put, yes, they can be recycled. However, many people are unaware of this, leading to recyclable vapes ending up in general waste bins and ultimately in landfills.

The most common method for recycling vapes is by placing them in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) bins at recycling centres. These vapes are then transported to treatment facilities, where they are broken down into various materials for recycling:

Here are 3 common ways to recycle disposable vapes:-

Household Waste Recycling Centers (HWRCs): Most HWRCs have dedicated WEEE bins for vapes.

Vape Shops:- Many vape shops have bins specifically for used vapes.

Electronic Stores:- In the UK, electronic stores over 400 square meters must accept the return of small WEEE items, such as vapes, for free.

Single use vapes should always be recycled. They should not be discarded in general waste bins, where they end up in landfills or incinerators. Disposable vapes should be taken to WEEE recycling facilities or designated drop off locations.

It's essential to avoid placing them in regular recycling bins, as they require special handling with other electrical items.

Vapes, whether disposable or rechargeable, should never be placed in general waste or recycling bins. At home, store them in a separate container and drop them off at a WEEE bin at your local Household Waste Recycling Centre.

Alternatively, check with your local vape shop, as they often have dedicated disposal bins.

Discussing the impact of single-use vapes, Damon Smith, CEO at Waste Managed said:- "Disposable vapes hurt the environment for several reasons. The low recycling rate, driven by consumer behaviour, is a significant issue. Additionally, disposable vapes' use of lithium-ion batteries has environmental consequences, as mining lithium-ion requires substantial energy, water, and resources. This demand is expected to increase by 500% by 2023, primarily due to its use in electric vehicle batteries. 1 aspect of disposable vape waste often overlooked is the packaging litter. Many consumers discard rubber seals and stickers on the streets, contributing to unnecessary litter. At Waste Managed we believe that the UK Government needs to act now and invest in public vape bins in City centres, towns and high footfall areas to promote recycling, educate consumers, and keep streets cleaner."

For more information on disposing of single-use vapes and to stay updated on the latest from Waste Managed visit:- https://www.wastemanaged.co.uk/how-to-dispose-of-vapes-are-they-recyclable/