Vapes can’t go in any normal bin and can’t be recycled at the kerbside
Vapes are not allowed in your home rubbish or recycling bin. Never put them there. They have tiny batteries inside that often start fires if they get squashed or broken.
The people who deal with rubbish say lithium batteries (like the ones in vapes) cause nearly half of all fires at waste sites and in rubbish trucks. These fires are dangerous, cost a lot of money to fix, and can hurt people.
Where should vapes go?
Take them to special places:
- Any shop that sells vapes (supermarkets, vape shops, some pharmacies) – they must take old ones for free.
- Your local rubbish recycling centre (the big tip) – most have a special bin just for vapes and batteries.
- Other drop-off spots – use a website like recycleyourelectricals.org.uk to find one near you.
Drop them off safely and the batteries get handled the right way so they don’t cause trouble.
For more easy tips about what goes in which bin, visit the UK Recycling Hub.