Safe Vape Disposal in Focus as Disposable Vape Ban Set for June 2025

With 5 million vapes discarded weekly across the UK, many ending up in landfill where they leak hazardous chemicals.

Lithium batteries and other chemicals in vapes can lead to fires in waste collection vehicles and recycling centres, making proper disposal critical.

Disposable vapes should never be placed in black or green bins, as they require specialist recycling.

Each of Worcestershire's Household Recycling Centres has dedicated vape recycling points, providing residents with a safe and accessible way to dispose of their used devices.

Councillor Emma Stokes, Worcestershire County Council's Cabinet Member for the Environment, said, "We're seeing more and more disposable vapes in bins at our recycling facility. Although labelled as 'disposable,' these vapes should only be recycled at our recycling centres. They contain valuable resources that can be recycled and, more importantly, pose a fire and explosion risk if handled improperly. While vapes are still around, let's make sure we're disposing of them correctly. We urge residents to recycle their vapes next time they visit one of our county's eleven recycling centres to dispose responsibly. Look out for the pink bucket in the battery section."

To find the nearest Household Recycling Centre and learn more about safe vape disposal, visit the Let's Waste Less website.

By recycling vapes properly, residents help to protect the environment, reduce fire hazards, and reclaim valuable materials. Worcestershire County Council encourages everyone to take this small but important step to ensure a safer, cleaner community.