The Short Answer
Yes, you can recycle vapes, and you should. Vape recycling is the right route for every type of device, from single-use disposables to refillable pods and rechargeable kits.
Vapes are electrical items with a hidden lithium battery, so they count as electrical waste. That means they should never go in a household, recycling or street bin.
The simplest route is to take used vapes to a takeback point in a shop that sells them, or to the small electricals section at a household waste recycling centre.
If you run a shop that sells vapes, you also have a takeback duty, which is covered further down along with our vape takeback bins.
Can You Recycle Vapes?
Yes. Every vape can be recycled, because every vape contains a lithium battery and electronic parts that should be recovered rather than thrown away.
The problem is that most are not recycled. Material Focus research found that around 8 million vapes a week are thrown away in the UK, and binned vapes are a major cause of fires in bin lorries and at waste sites. You can see how often it happens on our UK Battery Fire Tracker, which maps every publicly reported incident.
When a vape is crushed in a collection vehicle, the lithium battery can short circuit and ignite. That is why vapes should never go in any bin, a point covered in our guide on whether you can put vapes in the bin.
Recycling avoids that risk and recovers the battery, plastics and metals inside the device.
Where to Recycle Vapes in the UK
There are three easy routes for recycling vapes, and all of them are free for consumers.
| Where | What you can recycle | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Shops that sell vapes | Used disposables, pods, rechargeable vapes | Shops selling vapes must help you recycle old ones. Look for a takeback bin in store. |
| Supermarkets (Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and similar) | Most small vapes and pods | Many have takeback bins near the entrance or tills. |
| Household waste recycling centre | All vape types, loose batteries | Use the small electricals and battery bins, not general waste. |
If a vape has a battery that is designed to be removed easily, you can take the battery out and put it in the lithium battery bin, then recycle the rest of the device with electricals. If the battery is built in, recycle the whole device at a takeback point.
For a fuller walk-through of the options, see our guide on how to dispose of vapes in the UK.
Can You Recycle Vapes for Money?
For most people, the honest answer is no. You will not usually be paid to recycle a single vape, and vape recycling is set up to be free rather than to earn you money.
There has been talk of deposit return schemes for vapes, where a small deposit is added at purchase and returned when you bring the device back. Some waste companies have called for a deposit of up to £5 per device to drive returns.
For now, treat recycling as the responsible and free option. The point is to recover the battery and materials and to stop fires, not to make money.
What Happens to a Recycled Vape
Once collected, vapes go to a licensed treatment facility rather than landfill. There, the device is taken apart and separated into its materials.
- the lithium battery is removed and sent for battery recycling
- the plastic casing is separated for recycling
- the metals, including the coil and contacts, are recovered
The battery is the part that needs the most care, because lithium batteries have their own handling and transport rules. Our lithium battery disposal guide explains how that side works.
For Vape Retailers: Your Takeback Duty
If you sell vapes, recycling is not just good practice. As a distributor of electrical equipment, you have a takeback duty, which means helping customers recycle old vapes when you sell new ones.
Vapes sit in WEEE category 7.1, and handling returned devices brings storage, fire safety and documentation responsibilities with it.
In practice, that means:
- providing a clear in-store takeback point
- keeping returned vapes separate from general waste
- arranging compliant collection and recycling
- keeping evidence of the onward recycling route
Cell Comply supplies vape takeback bins and arranges compliant collection, so the devices customers return are recycled correctly with the paperwork to prove it. You can estimate the cost using our vape takeback cost calculator, or see the full picture for vape retailers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you recycle vapes at Tesco?
Many large supermarkets and vape retailers, including Tesco, offer in-store vape takeback bins for used devices. Shops that sell vapes have a duty to help you recycle old ones, so look for a takeback point near the till or customer service desk, or ask a member of staff.
Can you put vapes in battery recycling?
Only put a vape battery into battery recycling if the device is designed for the battery to be removed and you can do it safely. Most vapes have built-in batteries, so the whole device should go to a vape takeback point or the small electricals and battery section at a recycling centre.
Can you recycle vapes for money?
For most consumers, vape recycling is free rather than paid, and you will not usually be paid to recycle a single device. Some deposit return schemes are being discussed, but the main aim of recycling is to recover the battery and materials and to prevent fires.
How do you recycle a disposable vape?
Do not put it in any bin. Take the whole device to a vape takeback point in a shop that sells vapes, or to the small electricals and battery section at a household waste recycling centre. If the battery is easily removable, separate it into the lithium battery bin and recycle the rest with electricals.
Sell Vapes? Set Up Compliant Takeback and Recycling
Cell Comply supplies vape takeback bins and arranges compliant collection and recycling, with the documentation that proves your returned vapes were handled correctly.