Recycling Disposable Vapes – How to Dispose of Disposables

What you need to know about disposing of your disposables.

13 December 2022 | Hannah Rubery

You might not realise but millions of vapes are thrown away each week, and disposable vapes make up a great number of them. This is part, of course, due to them being single-use devices but they shouldn’t be tossed in your normal household trash. Similarly, you can’t throw them in your recycling either due to the complexity of vape products. So, what can you do?

How disposable devices work

Disposable vapes are made up of several parts including a non-rechargeable battery, vape coil, 2ml vape tank pre-filled with juice and of course, the outer casing. When the vape fires up, most often through inhaling on the device, the battery kicks in to heat up the coil and vaporise the vape juice inside and create vapour. Most often, disposable vapes feature Nicotine Salts which are designed to deliver a smoother vaping experience and a quicker nicotine hit.

The complexity of disposable vapes is one of the reasons why they’re so difficult to recycle, and why they shouldn’t be thrown away with your usual household rubbish.

What should I do with my disposable vape?

Finished with your Elf Bar, ELUX or Geek Bar? Unfortunately, as some are unsure what to do with their vape once it’s died, littering and incorrect disposal of disposable vapes have been on the rise. So, let’s break down what you should do with your vape when it’s done.

Firstly, find your local recycling centre where they can be properly recycled and disposed of. Many of these can be found in your local supermarket. Alternatively, there are some vape stores that allow you to return your disposable vapes to recycling. Make sure you check in advance though as some stores don’t provide this option.

Some disposable vapes can be partly recycled by carefully disassembling and recycling each piece accordingly. Not every disposable has a design suited for this. Make a note of the instructions that come with your disposable vape as these often detail ways to recycle and dispose of your disposable vapes. But to be on the safe side, simply keep your empty devices and take them with you on your next shopping trip.

Why recycling disposables is important

The batteries and E-Liquid that makeup part of disposable vapes are potentially harmful if they encounter our environment or animals. If not disposed of correctly the contents could leak into the water and contaminate the environment.

Not only this but the lithium batteries and precious metals used to create the coils are currently in high-demand. Lithium batteries are used in a lot of vital devices including PCs, mobile phones and electric cars. And with the need for more green variations of power, we rely on lithium for helping to provide a greener alternative which is why recycling lithium batteries is imperative.

To put it into perspective, it’s been reported that every second, two disposable vapes are being tossed away and accounts for 10 tonnes of lithium being sent to landfills. That amount would make enough electric engines for 1,200 electric cars.

Ways to vape more environmentally friendly

It’s undeniable that disposable vapes offer many positives, especially for those who are just making the switch to vaping from cigarettes. But when you’re comfortable with vaping, there are more cost-effective ways to vape and especially if you’re looking to be more kind to the environment.

1. Buy bigger bottles of E-Liquid.
Shortfills contain 50-100ml of E-Liquid which gives you even more for your money. This way you cut down on your plastic waste and get more vape juice for your money. Shortfills are nicotine-free so if you’re looking for a hit, you’ll need to add a Nic shot or two.

2. Use Nicotine Salts.
They deliver a stronger nicotine hit than traditional E-Liquids so you won’t need to vape as much to meet your cravings. A 10ml bottle of Nicotine Salts will last you much longer than a disposable and they’re often cheaper than said disposables.

3. Invest in a rechargeable kit.
Pod kits, tank kits and of course mod kits, feature rechargeable batteries which are the best way to vape environmentally friendly. This helps to limit the wastage of lithium batteries and is cheaper than replacing batteries/devices each time they run out.