ASK
Can you remove the battery from your vape kit? If so, take it out and recycle separately. Can’t remove the batteries? Add the whole vaping kit to your electrical recycling.
Recycling vapes
Recycle your vape – and save precious resources from going up in smoke.
Why recycle vapes?
Breathtaking facts about the vape.
We’re throwing away millions of vapes
In the UK we buy 30 million single-use a month by adults aged 16+ – almost double compared to July 2022.
5 million single-use vapes a week binned
Single-use vapes are a big problem – we’re chucking away almost 8 every second. They might be called disposable but they should still be recycled.
There’s hidden treasure inside vapes
Vape kits contain lithium – also a vital component in electric car batteries. Recycling vapes would save almost 5,000 electric cars worth of lithium from being lost forever.
Piling on the problem of e-waste
Vapes are quickly becoming part of the fastest growing waste stream in the UK, where we bin over 155,000 tonnes of electrical waste a year.
DID YOU KNOW?
5,000 electric vehicles
We lose 10 tonnes of lithium each year when ‘disposable’ single-use vapes are simply thrown away.
That lithium could make batteries for whole fleets of electric cars.
How to recycle vapes
It’s as easy as ABC
BAG THEM
Find a bag for all your old electrical bits and pieces until you can go to the recycling centre – or until collection day, if you have one. Put the electrical bit of your vape kit in the bag.
CHECK
Find your nearest recycling point. Enter your postcode in our recycling locator. And away you go.
Where can you recycle vapes?
Pick the option that suits you
With your recycling collection
Some councils collect electrical devices for recycling – either with your regular waste collection or by special arrangement. Contact your council or check their website.
At your local recycling centre
All household waste and recycling centres have bins for electricals and batteries. If you can remove the battery, recycle it separately. If you can’t, recycle the whole vaping kit with your electrical recycling.
At recycling banks
Some supermarkets, car parks and designated roadside areas have electrical recycling bins.
In store
Thousands of shops across the UK now take back old electricals for recycling if you’re buying a new one from them.
Near you
Find your nearest electrical recycling collection or drop-off point by popping your postcode into our handy locator.
Where to recycle vapes and other electrical items
Vape disposal – frequently asked questions
Can I put my old vape in the bin?
No. Like anything with a battery (or cable or plug), vapes can and should be recycled. This is true of single-use vapes, rechargeable vapes and those that are rechargeable with a single use chamber. If your rechargeable vape isn’t working, check out the options for repair.
What does the crossed-out bin icon on my vape mean?
The crossed-out wheelie bin symbol on a vape kit (or any electrical device) means you must not throw the product in the general rubbish bin. We need to dispose of electrical and electronic appliances carefully to save valuable resources and avoid polluting the environment.
What happens to an old vape if you recycle it?
At a recycling centre, built-in batteries are removed and the rest of the device is broken down by machine and by hand. The fragments are sorted into different materials such as metals and plastics, and are cleaned. Material that can be collected is sent to specialists – plastics go for further processing and metals go to smelters, for example.
Where can I recycle a vape I’m replacing?
Use our recycling locator to find your nearest reuse and recycling point. Or, if you’re going shopping, bear in mind that retailers now take back old electricals when you’re buying new. That should include old vaping kits. Some larger stores will recycle your old device even if you’re not buying something new from them. You should have 28 days from the time you buy your new product to hand your old one over for disposal. In other words, it’s easier than ever to recycle electricals. More on appliance recycling at retailers.
Why should I recycle the battery in my vape separately?
Batteries in the waste stream are a big cause of fire, resulting in millions of pounds’ worth of damage each year and presenting a significant risk to the life and health of firefighters. So never throw batteries in your general rubbish. If your vape has a built-in battery, put the whole device in with your electrical recycling.
