Vape recycling

When partnering with Reconomy for your vape recycling, we will provide you with a storage container for unwanted and used vapes for you to store, ready for our team to arrive on-site, collect, and manage disposal in the most environmentally friendly way possible. 

Vape recycling for businesses

Did you know that in the last 10 years, the number of people using disposable vapes within the UK has increased from 800,000 to over 4.3 million? With more disposable vapes and e-cigarettes being used than ever before, they have become an unwanted environmental headache that poses a significant threat to hazardous materials entering landfill sites.   

Reconomy, the leading provider of technology-enabled services to drive the circular economy, has recognised the challenges posed by disposable vapes and is launching a vape recycling service in the United Kingdom. When partnering with Reconomy for your vape recycling, we will provide you with a storage container for unwanted and used vapes for you to store, ready for our team to arrive on-site, collect, and manage disposal in the most environmentally friendly way possible.   

How does vape recycling work?

Old vapes are disposed of in dedicated containers, supplied by Reconomy.
The vapes will be collected and transported to a recycling facility.
The vapes are then sorted by hand and separated into different brands.
Once sorted, operatives will then start batch processing.
Firstly, the end cap of the vape is removed.
The contents of the vape is then ejected, and the materials are separated
The plastics and metal are processed, and the batteries are sent to ABTO/ABE for recycling. The wick, filter and nicotine parts are sent for incineration as requested by The Environment Agency.
Set,Of,Colorful,Disposable,Electronic,Cigarettes,Of,Different,Shapes,On

The dangers of disposable vapes

Due to disposable vapes containing a potent mixture of plastic, copper, and a lithium battery – the latter of which is hazardous – they are extremely difficult to recycle. It is estimated that approximately 1.3 million disposable vapes are thrown away every week in the UK*, that’s equal to an eye-watering 67.6 million per year.

Disposable vapes also represent a health & safety risk if not disposed of properly. The lithium batteries they contain are highly flammable and have been responsible for fires in bin lorries and injuries to workers at waste processing centres.

Get in touch

Hazardous waste management

Explore our other hazardous waste management services

Asbestos removal
Waste classification services
WEEE Waste Recycling

Latest compliance news

Discover the latest industry updates to compliance below

Find out more

Vape Recycling – Frequently Asked Questions

Vapes contain batteries, electronics, and potentially harmful materials that can pose a fire risk or environmental hazard in general waste. When recycled properly, many of these components can be recovered and reused – reducing resource consumption and keeping waste out of landfill.

Yes – both single-use and rechargeable vapes can be recycled. Our vape recycling service is designed to handle all formats, whether they’re collected from retail stores, hospitality venues or directly from consumers.

Collected vapes are safely dismantled. Batteries, plastics, metals and e-liquids are separated and sent to approved recycling partners. This process supports closed-loop recycling by recovering materials that can be reused in new products.

Every vape recycled is a step towards closing the circularity gap. By recovering valuable materials instead of using virgin resources, we reduce environmental impact and promote sustainable consumption – key principles of a circular economy.

No – under UK waste regulations, vapes fall under Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). Businesses have a legal obligation to dispose of them through compliant recycling services like ours.

Absolutely. Whether you’re a retailer, wholesaler, hospitality venue or facility manager, we offer tailored vape collection and recycling services, including containers, scheduled collections, and compliance reporting – all designed to make sustainability simpler.

Recycling doesn’t have to cost the Earth. Our solutions are designed to be efficient and scalable – helping businesses meet environmental targets and reduce waste management risks while demonstrating corporate responsibility.

It’s simple. Just get in touch via our online enquiry form or speak to one of our specialists. We’ll guide you through the process and design a solution that works for your business and environmental goals.

We’re a tech-enabled, people-powered engine of the circular economy. With over 4,000 colleagues across 150+ countries, we combine expertise, technology, and partnerships to help businesses create sustainable value – starting with smarter resource choices like vape recycling.

Get in touch to start recycling disposable vapes

Please complete the details below and one of our team will contact you shortly.