How To Dispose of Disposable Vapes in the UK

There will come a time when that light starts flashing, and your vapour finally disappears. Disposable vapes don’t last forever; sooner or later, you'll need to buy another and dispose of the old one. However, safely disposing of an old vape is not as easy as hurling it into the nearest bin.

Why You Shouldn’t Throw Away Your Disposable Vapes

Vapes of all kinds contain metals, plastics, and lithium batteries that negatively impact the environment if dumped in the wrong place. These materials can take thousands of years to decompose - while disposing of them properly offers a responsible way to recycle or remove them with a good conscience.

While fire or explosions happen, it is far rarer than some media sources will have you believe. However, disposing of a vape in a regular bin could lead to explosions or fires because the batteries and other components come into contact with heat and water.

Step-by-Step on How To Dispose of Disposable Vapes

Safely disposing of a disposable vape is simple but typically requires a trip to the local recycling centre. However, supermarkets and shopping centres may have places to drop off old batteries.

1. Understand the Components
2. The Quick Option
3. Take It Apart
4. Find Where It Needs to Go

Understand the Components 

Before you start tinkering, here's a quick breakdown of what's recyclable. The battery is one of the critical parts to dispose of properly as it may cause damage if left inside a bin. The remaining parts of the vape might be composed of plastic or metal, usually recyclable if you dispose of them correctly.

The Quick Option

We'll be coming to a more detailed way of disposing of a disposable vape shortly, but a shortcut may be available to you. Most recycling centres have an electrical bin where you can place an electronic device. Putting your vape in here is certainly better than throwing it in a bin, but leaving the battery in does leave a level of danger. 

Another option slowly gaining traction is vape-specific recycling bins. These are rare, and there are a few good reasons why. Different makes contain different components and blends of plastic and metal, making one disposable box tricky to recycle quickly and efficiently. Leaving the batteries inside is also a problem, especially if fifty of the same are sitting somewhere in the sun. 

If you find one of these boxes, we highly recommend removing the battery first and disposing of it in a battery-specific bin. A final option is to return them to the shop you bought them. Not every shop does this, so give them a call beforehand or ask the next time you make a vape purchase.

Take It Apart

Remember to handle your vape and its battery carefully; we recommend using gloves. The first step is to take the vape apart. Once the end of the vape is detached, remove the battery and the small piece of cotton, usually inside, and remove the liquid tank. 

Find Where It Needs to Go

You can find yournearest recycling centre with a quick online search, and from there, it's simply a matter of going there and disposing of the battery and components in the appropriate places. Batteries must go in a battery bin, plastics and metals with their own kind, and glass containers can go with the glass. 

If you're a regular vaper, you might have several vapes to dispose of at the recycling centre; we recommend compiling these in a cool, dark place, well away from direct sunlight. 

How To Reduce Your Environment Impact By Recycling

In Britain, we purchase a staggering3 billion vapes yearly, with 3 million going into the bin weekly. This includes various types of vapes, but single-use disposable vapes account for around 1.3 million binned vapes weekly - that's two every second! The level of waste accumulated through these vapes is astonishing, and by simply recycling your vape, you'll be doing your part for the environment. 

Almost all batteries contain lithium, and this high demand has led to a surge in mining worldwide - often associated with terribleenvironmental and even social factors. Recycling and repurposing batteries reduce this pressure. Steel, aluminium, copper, and lithium all come from the ground and are finite. If we can reuse even some of them, it's a significant win for the environment.

Final Thoughts

Disposing of a disposable vape safely and correctly is simple and requires only the slightest effort on the part of whoever was using it. With an increased number of recycling centres now open, along with electronic disposal points popping everywhere, there's no excuse to throw that vape into the rubbish bin. When the vapour runs out, head over to WAKA for your new vape - but ensure the old one is disposed of properly.