With an increasing number of people seeing the benefit of making the switch from smoking to vaping and vaping rising in popularity in the UK, the question of what to do with a vape once it is finished is a big one. The safe disposal of vape waste is an important issue, especially for the many vapers who are also looking to reduce the environmental impact of vaping.
If you would like to tackle safety concerns and be sure that your vape waste is disposed of in the most environmentally conscious way, we are here to help. Find out everything you need to know about disposing of your vape in the UK.
Why proper vape disposal is crucial
Disposing of your vape properly is crucial for a variety of safety and environmental factors.
Environmental impact
Sadly, it’s not uncommon for people to dispose of their vapes the same way they would a cigarette butt - by littering. However, failing to dispose of your vape properly can have a significant and unnecessarily negative impact on the environment.
There are some components to vapes, such as the plastic, heavy metals and even e-liquid, that can cause harm to the environment and pollute both water and land when they’re not safely disposed of. For example, vape batteries offer many benefits but they also contain elements that can be toxic and when batteries are disposed of incorrectly, these elements can leech into the ground or nearby water and pose a threat to local wildlife.
Likewise, e-liquids can leak into the environment and while they’re not as potentially harmful to wildlife as chemicals from batteries, it is not good for nicotine products to be seeping into the ground or ingested by local wildlife.
The UK Government’s disposable vape ban, which is due to come into effect on 1st June 2025, has been introduced under The Environmental Protection Act. One of its primary aims is to reduce the amount of vape waste caused by disposable vapes, which have built-in single-use batteries. You can find out more in our guide to the disposable vape ban.
Safety concerns
There are also a number of safety concerns to be considered when it comes to the disposal of vapes. The mishandling of discarded vapes and batteries can cause fires due to overheating, damage or friction. Batteries in particular should be handled with care and recycled by specialist facilities.
When disposed of incorrectly, vape batteries can be exposed to risky circumstances like getting wet, being crushed, or meeting other metallic objects. Damage to these batteries may cause them to vent which has led to an increase in fires in waste facilities, bins, and waste collection vehicles.
Vape waste can also pose a danger to children or animals, who could be adversely affected if they attempted to ingest e-liquids or play around with discarded vapes.
Legal and regulatory considerations
In the UK, there are also legal and regulatory aspects that should be considered when it comes to vape disposal. UK regulations, specifically those related to WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) dictate how electronic devices and batteries should be disposed of. These state that throwing batteries in regular household waste is generally prohibited.
Different vaping components and their disposal needs
Bearing these considerations in mind, it may seem tricky to know exactly what you should be doing with your vapes – especially if you have old disposable vapes to get rid of or you’re wondering how to deal with reusable vapes and/or used pods that have come to the end of their lifespan. Get to grips with the best disposal solutions below.
How to dispose of disposable vapes
One of the reasons that disposable vapes have posed a challenge when it comes to disposal is the fact that they contain both electronics and batteries. This combination of components mean that they should never be disposed of in your household waste, as this can pose a potential risk.
Instead, disposable vapes should be taken to battery recycling points or electronic waste facilities at household waste recycling centres (HWRCs). You can use your postcode to find your nearest recycling point.
It’s very important that your disposable vapes are handled by specialist facilities where they can be dismantled by hand and the recyclable elements can be recovered safely. This is because they have a closed design that protects the internal battery and electronics, but means that advanced training and safety precautions are needed to process them.
Disposing of pods and pod systems
If you have a vape that works with pods, then you need to work out a few things before knowing how to safely dispose of the various components. Some pod kits have refillable pods, for example, which means they can be used multiple times. Others have prefilled pods that are designed to be used once and then disposed of when empty.
Once you know that a pod can’t be reused, either because it’s a prefilled style or it has come to the end of its usefulness, you can check with your council to see if it is recyclable through your local scheme. Unfortunately, you may find that it’s not possible. This can be due to the kind of plastic used or the fact that some pods are hard to clean and dismantle.
If this is the case, the pods can be disposed of in your normal household waste. However, it’s best to make sure they’re as empty as possible before doing so, to avoid unnecessary e-liquid leakage. For the pod device itself, first check if the battery is removable. If so, the vape itself can be disposed of in general waste bins while the battery should go to any battery drop off point. If the battery isn’t one that can be easily removed, then the device should be treated in the same way as a disposable and taken to a HWRC or the recycling point in your local Evapo store. If the device is still functional ensure that it is turned off or locked before leaving it the recycling point.
Vape kits with removable batteries
If you’re looking to dispose of a vape kit that has a removal battery, then it is essential that you remove the battery first. The battery can then be taken to any dedicated recycling point, find your nearest battery recycling centre online. Once the battery has been removed, the rest of the vape can be treated as small electronic waste and taken to an HWRC or other electronic waste collection.
If you’re at all concerned about a battery that you’ve removed from a vape, you can wrap it in electrical tape to help keep it secure. This can be very useful if you’re transporting more than one battery at a time, as batteries can rub against each other and cause potentially dangerous friction. Electrical tape is an insulator and will prevent exposed terminals from making a circuit while also providing a layer of protection to the body of the battery.
Vape kits with built-in batteries
Do not attempt to remove the battery from a vape that has one built-in. These should be safely removed by a specialist facility and not a user. Instead, take the vape kit to an HWRC, a local retailer or another designated electronic waste collection point where it can be properly disposed of as small electronic waste.
If the device is still working, make sure that it is locked or switched off before taking it to be recycled.
E-liquid bottles
First of all, ensure that your e-liquid bottle is empty of all e-liquid and give it a rinse. Then, check the manufacturer’s guidelines to identify the material your bottle is made of (typically glass or plastic). Most e-liquid bottles can be recycled in your normal household recycling, but it is a good idea to check your local council's recycling guidelines to see if it is accepted in your area.
Vape coils
If you are using a vape with replaceable coils they will need to be periodically replaced as the cotton inside burns. Unfortunately, there is not currently a way for these coils to be recycled, but because they do not contain any electrical components they are safe to dispose of in your standard household waste.
Options for vape disposal and recycling in the UK
In the UK, there are a few different recycling options for vapes and batteries and the one that’s most suitable in any given situation depends on the type of vape or vape accessories you’re looking to dispose of.
Dedicated battery recycling points
Suitable for removable vape batteries and external batteries in general, dedicated battery recycling points can be found in a wide variety of public places. Look out for the recycling bins in supermarkets, electronics stores, DIY centres and even some libraries. You can also find your nearest battery recycling centre online.
Local Council Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs)
HWRCs are your local recycling centre, often called tips. These facilities accept a wide range of different materials for recycling in a variety of different sections, including small electronic waste and batteries. However, not all HWRCs accept the same types of waste, so it is a good idea to check your local council's website for a list of accepted items and the location of your nearest HWRC.
Vape disposal FAQ
Are disposable vapes recyclable?
Disposable vapes can be recycled, as long as they are taken to the appropriate recycling point. Disposable vapes must be dismantled by specialist facilities, which are able to removed built-in batteries and recover any recyclable components.
Bring your old vapes to your local Evapo store where we can make sure they are recycled responsibly or take them to your nearest electronic waste facility.
Where can I recycle vape batteries?
Vape batteries can be recycled at any dedicated recycling point, find your nearest battery recycling centre online. You can also bring them into your local Evapo store, where you’ll find a battery and vape recycling point.
Can I throw my vape in the regular bin?
No, your vape shouldn’t be thrown in the regular bin. Vapes with built-in batteries should be taken to a recycling point found at places like your local council HWRC or in vape stores like Evapo.
Vape kits with removable batteries can be thrown in the general waste after the battery is removed, however they can also be dropped off at small electronic recycling points at HWRCs. External batteries should be dropped off at any dedicated battery recycling point.
What are the risks of improper vape disposal?
Disposing of vapes in an improper way can pose a number of risks. These include fires caused by batteries which are jostled, compressed or overheated. Incorrectly disposed of batteries can also leak, as can e-liquid pods and bottles which are not completely empty. These leaks can leech into the ground or water and cause harm to local wildlife and the environment. It is always best to dispose of vapes responsibly.