How To Dispose Of Vapes

Responsible vape disposal is important to protect the environment, reduce waste going to landfill, and avoid contamination risks. Check out these vape disposal facts for an idea of how much waste old vapes create:

• Around 138 million disposable vapes are sold in the UK each year.
• Every week in the UK 3 million disposable vapes are thrown away, and around 5.4 million every month.
• 37% of vapers buy single-use vapes and more than 50% of disposable vapes are thrown away.
• 6 million rechargeable vapes are disposed of in the UK monthly.
• 23% of people recycle vapes in-store when buying a new one, while about 20% recycle vapes at a local household waste recycling centre.
• The number of disposable vapes that end up in landfill each year take up 1.4 million square feet of space – 11 times the size of Trafalgar Square.
• The use of disposable vapes in the UK increased by 600% from November 2021 to November 2022.
• 23 tonnes of lithium go to waste every year when people throw away disposable vapes. It’s enough lithium to power 2,884 electric vehicles.
• The production of disposable vapes in the UK releases 59,650 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere annually.
• Global production of disposable vapes releases about 9 million tonnes of CO2 yearly.
• Cigarettes are still worse for the environment than vapes though. Global tobacco uses 600 million trees, 200,000 hectares of land, and 22 billion tonnes of water. It also releases 84 million tonnes of CO2 annually.

Old vapes should be kept separate from general waste and household or commercial mixed recycling.

Follow these steps to dispose of a vape safely:

1. Keep the vape intact: Do not dismantle a device unless a component such as the battery is specifically designed to be removed.
2. Use a dedicated collection point: Return it to a vape retailer, use a vape recycling bin or take it to an appropriate WEEE recycling point.
3. Recycle removable batteries separately: Only remove a battery where the device is designed to allow this safely.
4. Use a commercial collection for business waste: Organisations producing or collecting old vapes must arrange an appropriate WEEE waste collection.
5. Store old vapes safely: Keep collected devices secure and away from heat or sources of ignition while awaiting collection.

It has been illegal to sell or supply single-use vapes in the UK since June 2025. Businesses must also arrange recycling for any leftover stock that cannot legally be sold.

Old disposable vapes should still be recycled correctly.

Do not put them in:

• General waste bins
• Mixed recycling bins
• Household recycling bins
• Standard battery recycling boxes while the battery remains built into the device

Instead, use a dedicated vape recycling bin, retailer take-back service or appropriate WEEE collection point. Businesses with old single-use vapes should arrange collection by an authorised waste carrier and ensure the devices are sent for appropriate treatment.

You shouldn’t put a whole disposable vape into a standard battery recycling container if the battery is built into the device.

Vapes with integrated batteries are electrical equipment and should be recycled through a vape or WEEE waste collection.

If a battery is specifically designed to be removed safely, it can be separated and recycled through an appropriate battery collection. Do not cut open or dismantle a vape simply to reach the battery, as damaging a lithium-ion battery can often create a risk of fire.

Businesses that sell vapes must legally provide an option for customers to dispose of them in line with the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) regulations. You must take back waste vapes in your store or have an alternative collection point in place. Learn more on the government website.

Signing up to a compliance scheme is a safe way to ensure this. Contact us at Business Waste for more information. Failure to comply could lead to a fine of up to £5,000. To ensure you’re compliant you must also:

• Provide and display information to customers about the take back service you offer – find out more on the government website.
• Keep a record of all WEEE items you collect and dispose of.
• Maintain records of how you tell customers about your take back scheme.

Disposable vapes contain the same components and materials as reusable vapes. They often have a smaller tank and battery, a cheaper plastic exterior, and parts that aren’t normally removable. What’s in a disposable vape is a:

• Plastic exterior
• Lithium-ion battery
• Small tank to store the e-liquid
• Cotton wick
• Metal coil

There are three main places where you can dispose of disposable vapes responsibly:

• Vape disposal bins – many vape shops now have specific vape disposal bins to collect used disposable vapes, which are then recycled.
• Electrical and electronic retailers – electrical stores larger than 400 square metres must take back small WEEE items (including most vapes) for free, wherever they were bought. These are then recycled properly.
• Household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) – check your local HWRC as most accept disposable vapes in their WEEE bins, which should ensure they’re recycled rather than going to landfill.