Solihull Council have revealed what they intend to do with thousands of illegal vapes, cosmetics and toys. Pictured: Cllr Wazma Qais (centre), Richard Staveley from Solihull Councils regulatory services team (left) and Josh Jensen from Lighthouse Security (right) (Image: Solihull Council)

Solihull Council reveals what it has done with thousands of seized vapes, toys and cosmetics

by · Birmingham Live

Solihull Council has revealed what it plans to do with thousands of seized vapes, cosmetics and toys. In recent years the authority has confiscated thousands of illegal vapes, dangerous toys, harmful cosmetics and counterfeit small electricals, clothing and jewellery.

Trading standards officers have seized illegal goods ranging from harmful tobacco and vapes with high levels of nicotine and other unknown and unregulated substances, to poisonous cosmetics and even dangerous toys for small children.

In most cases, illegal and dangerous goods would be destroyed. However the council has linked up with charities to either recycle, or in some cases reuse where appropriate, the items.

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It has partnered with Lighthouse Security to safely and securely recycle the items that cannot be reused. It also linked the company with homeless charity St Basils and the authority's rough sleeper outreach team to distribute other goods which were seized and made safe.

This will provide some additional warm clothes and toys for the Young Families Scheme and people who are sleeping rough.

Cabinet member for communities, Cllr Wazma Qais, said: “Our regulatory services team works hard to ensure our residents are safe and criminal gangs aren’t funded through these dangerous goods. It’s good to know we’re also working with companies like Lighthouse Security to recycle them safely and securely and that they won’t end up in landfill.

“The company will be recycling more than 1,000 illegal vapes, some dangerous toy scooters and soft toys, hundreds of bottles of harmful cosmetics, small electricals which could be a fire risk and lots of counterfeit clothing and jewellery which, as it’s unregulated, could be harmful to the wearer.

"These were all seized in Solihull. I’m also really pleased to see that some goods can be made safe and redirected to some of our most vulnerable residents.”