33% of Irish adults admit they don’t know how to properly dispose of vapes. If we’re all being honest, the real figure is likely higher.
Despite popular belief, they can easily be recycled. Not just thrown on the ground.
Why vapes need proper recycling
Those slick little devices contain:
🔋 Battery (often lithium-ion) – electronic waste territory.
🧴 Plastics – casing and mouthpiece, often polycarbonate.
⚙️ Metals – wirings, contacts, and circuit boards. Many parts can actually be recycled.
☠️ Nicotine liquid residues – toxic when leaked.
i.e vapes contain a complex mix of materials, several of which are hazardous. So no, you can’t just toss them in the bin, they need proper disposal.
Where to Drop Vapes & Cartridges (links below)
- Civic Amenity/Recycling Centres
Local authority recycling centers (also called Civic Amenity sites) accept small e-waste like vapes for free.
Use our DropPoint search to find your nearest one (enter your location for best results).
- Retailers. One-for-One Take-Back
Because vapes are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), vape and e-cigarette retailers, like Vuse Ireland and Hale, are required to accept your old device on a like-for-like basis, meaning you can hand in your old vape when buying a new one.
- Blue Battery Boxes
End-of-life disposable, single-use, and rechargeable vape or e-cigarette devices can all be recycled for free anywhere you see WEEE Ireland’s Blue Battery Boxes.
Simply drop your e-cigarettes or empty vape cartridges there for free!
You’ll find small blue drop boxes in supermarkets, newsagents, and many recycling centers.
What Happens When You Don’t Bin It Right
They can start fires.
If a vape battery gets crushed, damaged, or short-circuited, whether at home, in a bin or rubbish truck, it can ignite 🔥.
There have been many incidents in Ireland, including a vape battery that exploded and caused a house fire over Christmas.
They can pollute the environment
When tossed into a landfill, vape batteries leak toxic chemicals into the soil and groundwater, contaminating ecosystems and posing risks to both wildlife and people 🌍.
Valuable materials are wasted.
Metals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel could be recovered and reused, but when tossed in the wrong bin, they’re gone for good.
There’s a real need in Ireland to recover more of these materials. Keeping your vape out of the bin is an easy win.
Step-by-Step: How to dispose of your vapes safely
1️⃣ Empty the liquid tank (for rechargeable vapes).
Make sure there’s no leftover e-liquid to avoid leaks. Do not pour it down the drain. Soak it up with a paper towel and then it can go in the bin.
2️⃣ Remove the battery if possible.
Take it out and recycle it separately. If it can’t be removed, drop the whole vape into a WEEE Ireland Blue Battery Box or hand it to a participating retailer.
3️⃣ Separate the cartridge (if you can).
Detaching it from the device makes recycling more efficient and prevents leaks.
4️⃣ Drop it off properly.
- If you’re unsure where to go, check our DropPoint search here (refine by your location)
- Wipe off excess liquid or residue so collection boxes stay clean.
- Store used vapes in a small container until you can bring them in (never toss them loosely into your bag).
- Keep them away from heat or direct sunlight while waiting to be recycled.
💡 The crossed-out wheelie bin symbol is your reminder: these don’t belong in regular bins.
What about E-Cigarettes?
In short – it’s the same deal as vapes, just a different name.
Consider switching to reusable devices 🔁
Every week, around 1.3 million single-use vapes are thrown away. They might look small, but together, they’re creating a big e-waste problem. Their mixed materials (plastic, metal, and lithium batteries) aren’t biodegradable and are difficult to recover once binned.
Refillable or rechargeable vapes produce far less waste over time, and some shops even offer e-liquid refill stations, so you can top up your device instead of buying a new one.
Choosing models with replaceable parts also helps conserve resources and reduces what ends up in landfills.
Quick tips to get vape disposal right
✅ Store used devices safely until you can drop them off.
✅ Use our free DropPoint search to find the nearest recycling center to you.
✅ If unsure, hand it back to the retailer you purchased it from. They’re required to take it back for free.
So, now you know why that tasty watermelon stick is a problem waiting to happen. Do your bit and dispose of them properly.
Image Credits:
- Vaporesso
- VapeClubMY
- European Union WEEE Directive Logo (Trash can) via Wikimedia Commons, source
- Various types of e-cigarettes via Wikimedia Commons, source
- www.weeeireland.ie
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