Recycling disposable vapes safely and responsibly

An estimated 8.2m vapes are thrown away every week in the UK*, with vapes being identified as one of the reasons for an increase in fires in bin lorries and recycling centres.

Disposable vapes should never be placed in black or green bins, as they require specialist recycling. Worcestershire County Council has vape recycling points at all of its Household Recycling Centres as well as battery and small electrical item recycling. 

Electrical items and vapes are being found on a daily basis at the recycling sorting facility at Norton.

Vapes also contain valuable and critical materials such as lithium and copper. The number of vapes thrown away every year could instead be powering over 10,000 electric vehicles. Vapes are also toxic and damaging to the environment and wildlife if littered.

Councillor Ian Cresswell, Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Communities, said: “Unfortunately, I have seen multiple fires in waste facilities caused by disposable batteries found in many items, such as vapes after being disposed of in people’s waste or household recycling.

“Battery fires can cause serious damage and put the collection crews in danger when the fires are in the back of vehicles.

“As the ban on disposable vapes comes into force, please remember to dispose of them correctly, at your local Household Recycling Centre.”

For more information on recycling vapes and the location of the Household Recycling Centres visit Let's Waste Less or visit Recycle Your Electricals.

*Figures from Material Focus,  a not-for-profit organisation whose goal is to stop the nation throwing away or hoarding their small electricals and the organisation behind the “Recycle Your Electricals” and HypnoCat campaigns. They have released research which shows the growing problem with people disposing of vapes incorrectly and are working alongside electrical manufacturers and local authorities to stop the ever-growing problem of electronic waste.