Disposable vapes are one of the most successful aids in helping smokers quit, with the total number of smokers in the UK at a record low. This is in part thanks to the prevalence of disposable vapes. But this success has had some consequences—namely, electrical waste. The industry can do better, and we as vapers have to do our part.
Material Focus recently found that the number of disposable vapes thrown away has quadrupled to 5 million per week in the UK.
This amounts to:
- 7.7 million disposable vapes bought per week (double compared to 2022)
- Nearly 3 million used disposable vapes stored in cupboards across the UK
- 5,000 electric vehicle batteries worth of lithium being thrown away
Did you know that disposable vapes are recyclable?
In the UK, 73% of vapers admit to tossing their used disposable vapes in the bin. Only 17% of vapers recycle their vapes at a store or a battery recycling point. The rest either toss their vapes on the street, flush them down the toilet, or hoard them in a cupboard to deal with later.
But it doesn't have to be this way.
Contrary to popular belief, disposable vapes are actually very recyclable.
How to Recycle Disposable Vapes
Here are some tips for recycling your disposable vapes.
- Don't break them down yourself. There's no need to dissemble the vape before you recycle it. While it may eventually be safe for consumers to do this themselves, leave that to the pros for now.
- Recycle the packaging. It's not just the vapes that need recycling. Remember to recycle any and all paper or cardboard packaging that your vape came with in the appropriate recycling bin.
- Check in-person stores. Check to see if your local battery retailer offers a recycling point, as most are required to do so by law.
- Find your nearest recycling point. If you're not sure where to go to recycle your disposable vapes, use the online "Recycle Your Electricals" tool—overseen by Material Focus—to find a recycling centre near you.