Safe Disposal of Used Vapes with the Vape Container

The safe disposal of vapes is becoming a big concern not only in the waste and recycling industry but across the UK. Vape usage in England has skyrocketed by over 400% between 2012 and 2023, with 9% of the UK population now using these products [source Gov UK].

The majority of these are single use vapes. These are the vapes that will be subject to the UK Government ban on their sale from June 2025.

Single use vapes are non-rechargeable and often end up in general waste or as litter. Disposing of single use vapes in with general waste creates an environment hazard. The same disposal issues also apply to rechargeable vapes.

What are the issues created by vape disposal?

Vapes contain lithium-ion batteries, plastics, and nicotine solutions, all of which can be hazardous if improperly disposed of.

Research has suggested only 17 per cent of vapers recycle their vapes in the correctly, with a staggering 73 per cent discard them in bins with general waste or as litter.

These figures, and the increasing use of these products, highlights the urgent need for safe and efficient vape disposal methods in venues, public spaces and places of work.

And as disposal vapes contain lithium-ion batteries, when disposed of in waste they pose a major fire hazard to waste facilities and their employees. Also, they require labour-intensive disassembly, making them a challenging to recycle without the proper processes in place.

Estimates show that all the disposable vapes thrown away in a year contain enough lithium to power 5,000 electric car batteries, making it imperative to ensure their proper disposal and full recycling.

With the new Government regulations on the horizon, businesses have a unique opportunity to lead by adopting safer, more sustainable vape disposal practices that protect employees, the environment, and waste management facilities alike.

The Vape Container: your solution for compliant, safe vape disposal and waste management

In response to enquiries about how to best dispose of vapes and reduce the risk of fires caused by their lithium batteries, Brown Recycling has introduced our Vape Container —an easy to use and portable outlet for the safe and compliant disposal of vapes.

Key features of the Vape Container:

• Safe and secure management: Engineered to handle vape waste safely, minimising fire risks by securely containing the hazardous materials.
• Regulatory compliance: Aligned with both the Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2005 and the WEEE Regulations 2013, the Vape Container ensures that your business meets all legal standards for vape disposal.
• Portability: Lightweight and easy to relocate, the Vape Container can be moved to various locations across your site as needed, adapting seamlessly to your operational requirements.
• High capacity: With space for up to 750 vapes (12 kg), the Vpe Container is versatile enough for businesses of all sizes, providing a scalable solution for growing disposal needs.
• Promotes education and awareness: the clear, informative design encourages responsible recycling, helping to educate employees on the importance of safe vape disposal.

With the attention firmly on vapes and their safe disposal now is the time to transition to compliant vape disposal practices across your business or organisation.

Contact Brown Recycling today to learn more about the Vape Container and how your business can ensure you have the right facilities in place to help protect your customers, employees and the environment.

Call our team on 0808 196 6093 to discuss your requirements or email info@brownrecycling.co.uk. We’ll be happy to help.