An empty disposable vape does not belong in household waste and it does not belong in packaging recycling. Every device has a lithium battery inside. That belongs at a battery collection point, at a recycling center or with a hazardous waste collection service. Hand the device over whole, without opening it. The box goes in with paper. Which drop-off point is nearest to you is listed on your city or town's website.
Why does an empty vape not belong in household waste?
Because there is a lithium battery inside. If it gets crushed or damaged, it can catch fire. In a garbage truck and at a sorting plant, that is exactly what happens. On top of that the device holds metals and plastics that can be recycled and are lost in residual waste. Hand it in separately and both problems are solved.
This goes for every device, rechargeable ones included. A battery does not become harmless just because the e-liquid is gone. What else to watch when handling the battery is on our Battery Safety page.
Where do you take your empty vape?
To any point that accepts used batteries or small electronics. Usually that means your city's recycling center, a hazardous waste collection vehicle, and the collection boxes that stand in many stores and drugstores. What your local point accepts is listed on your city or town's website. A quick look there saves you a wasted trip.
- Recycling center. Accepts small electronics, usually free for households.
- Hazardous waste collection. Runs on fixed dates around the districts, and the dates are in the waste calendar.
- Collection box in a store. Often sits near the entrance, usually for batteries and small devices.
Collect a few devices and take them in together. Then the trip is worth it and the devices do not sit in a drawer for weeks.
How do you prepare the device?
You do not. Hand it over whole, exactly as it is. Do not open it, do not break anything out of it and do not try to get the battery out yourself. A damaged battery is precisely the thing you want to avoid. Leftover e-liquid inside is not a problem, the tank is sealed.
Keep the device dry and at room temperature until you hand it in. Heat wears on the battery even when it is empty.
What do you do with the packaging?
The box goes in with paper, the film in with plastics. But hold on to the packaging for as long as you use the device. It carries the manufacturer's security code, which lets you confirm that your device is an original. We show you how in the Authenticity Check.
How many devices do you go through in a year?
That depends on the puff count. At around 300 puffs a day you reach about 110,000 puffs in a year. With a 12,000 puff device that works out to nine devices, with an 80,000 puff device to barely more than one and a half. The puff counts are manufacturer figures, and your actual use will differ. The order of magnitude still holds.
| Model | Puffs per manufacturer | Devices a year at 300 puffs a day |
|---|---|---|
| Fumot Digital Box 12000 | 12,000 | about 9 |
| RandM Tornado 15000 | 15,000 | about 7 |
| Fumot Tornado 20000 | 20,000 | about 6 |
| RandM Tornado 25000 | 25,000 | about 4 |
| Fumot Tornado 35K | 35,000 | about 3 |
| Fumot Leopard 40K | 40,000 | about 3 |
| Fumot Eco 2in1 50000 | 50,000 | about 2 |
| Fumot Eco 4in1 80000 | 80,000 | about 1.5 |
One device with a high puff count replaces several small ones. Go through fewer devices in a year and you have fewer batteries to dispose of and reorder less often. You can compare all the ranges under Disposable Vapes, and the longest runtimes are the Fumot Leopard 40K and the Fumot Eco 4in1 80000.
FAQ
Does the device have to be empty before I hand it in?
No. You can hand it in with e-liquid still inside, the tank is sealed. You should not deliberately run the battery down by firing the device nonstop either. It achieves nothing and strains the battery.
Can I take the battery out myself?
No, and you should not try. The devices are glued and pressed together. Breaking one open almost always damages the battery, and that is exactly the state in which it becomes dangerous. Hand the device over whole.
Does every store take old vapes back?
Every store that sells e-cigarettes, yes. It takes used devices back even if you do not buy a new one there. Beyond that, your city's recycling center accepts small electronics.
What do I do if the device is swollen or hot?
Put it somewhere with nothing flammable around, on a stone floor or outside, and stop using it. A swollen battery is a fault. Take the device to a drop-off point soon and point it out when you get there.
Can I hand in several devices at once?
Yes. Collect them in a box and tape over the contacts on each one, then hand them all in together at the recycling center or in a store. For private households there is no upper limit at normal household quantities.