Vape Globe – helping our customers to recycle

Vape Globe puts our customers at the heart of our business. Through our products, operations and people we aim to create a sustainable future. A core part of our sustainable business model is to help our customers safely and securely recycle their vape devices.

Why you should recycle your vape

Vapes are electrical goods so need to be recycled or disposed of in the proper way. If they are not recycled or disposed of correctly, they can be dangerous to the environment.

Vapes, including disposable vapes, pod systems, and e-liquid bottles, contain materials like plastic, metal, and lithium-ion batteries that require specific recycling treatment.

To remind you that old electrical equipment can be recycled, it is now marked with a crossed-out wheeled bin symbol. Please do not throw any electrical equipment (including those marked with the crossed-out wheeled bin symbol) in your bin.

Used vapes can have environmental and health risks unless they are disposed of correctly. Batteries and e-liquids can leak harmful chemicals into the environment if not handled or recycled carefully.

Recycling used vapes helps:

• Minimise electronic waste.
• Reduce environmental pollution.
• Recover valuable materials like metal and plastic for use in other products.

According to Materials Focus, the lithium inside the vapes thrown away could be used instead to power 10,127 electric car batteries each year!

Anything with a plug, battery or cable, including vapes, can be recycled - even the cables themselves!

Recycling your vapes

Recycling your used vapes is essential to help protect the planet. Whether you use disposable vapes, refillable pod systems, or accessories like e-liquid bottles and coils, understanding how to recycle them the right way is important.

Disposable Vapes

Disposable vapes can be recycled, but they fall under the category of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) so need to be treated carefully.

• Batteries: Remove and recycle at a battery recycling point.
• Plastic and metal: Drop off at a designated e-waste recycling facility.
• E-liquid residue: Empty the vape completely before recycling.

You can read more about how to use the Vape Globe take-back scheme below.

Refillable Vapes and Pod Systems

Yes, pod systems often contain recyclable materials:

• Pods: Check if your brand or retailer offers a take-back scheme. Clean and drop them off at participating retailers or use the Vape Globe take-back scheme. Both single-use and rechargeable vapes need to be recycled properly to mitigate environmental impact.
• Device: Recycle the body at electronic waste centres.
• Vape Globe take-back scheme: you can read more about this below.

E-Liquids and Bottles

While the liquid itself must be disposed of carefully, most bottles are recyclable if cleaned thoroughly before putting them in the household recycling bin.

Coils and Accessories

Vape coils contain metal, meaning they can be recycled at facilities that accept small electronic parts. You can read our article on how to recycle vapes here.

Where to Recycle Vapes

There are many options available when you want to recycle your vapes.

• Retailer Recycling Schemes: Some vape stores offer take-back schemes for used devices and pods.
• Local E-Waste Services: Check your nearest recycling centre for vape disposal services.
• Battery Recycling Points: Dispose of lithium-ion batteries safely.
• Local Authority Website: Visit your local authority website for information on recycling facilities and drop-off points.
• The Vape Globe take-back scheme: there are more details about how to benefit from this scheme below.

You can find your closest designated recycling point by searching using this website from Materials Focus: www.recycleyourelectricals.org.uk

The Vape Globe take-back scheme

Vape Globe is happy to help you recycle your vapes through our dedicated takeback scheme. You can send any vapes purchased from us back to our UK warehouse at Milton Keynes where the team can arrange for them to be recycled by an authorised waste management company.

We have partnered with Biffa, a waste management company that ensures any vapes returned are recycled appropriately and processed through Approved Authorised Treatment Facilities (AATF).

To benefit from our take-back service, please send your used vapes via courier to our warehouse at 33 Clarke Road, Milton Keynes, England, MK1 1LG. Please write clearly on the packaging that the contents are to be recycled. You should check with the courier company to make sure they will carry electrical items or batteries, as some do not.

The disposable vapes ban – what are your options?

The disposable vape ban will come into force on 1 June 2025. After that date, it will be illegal to sell or supply single-use or disposable vapes. At Vape Globe, we have lots of great alternative vapes or nicotine pouches that have the same great variety of flavours and nicotine strengths, allowing you to tailor your vaping or pouch experience to your tastes – and without having to worry about the waste of disposable vapes.