Can you recycle vapes and e-cigarettes?

Vapes contain lithium batteries and are a leading cause of bin-lorry and waste-plant fires — they must never go in general waste or recycling. Disposable vapes were banned from sale in the UK on 1 June 2025, but old ones and reusable devices still need proper disposal: take them to vape retailer take-back bins, supermarket WEEE points, or your recycling centre. Retailers selling vapes are legally required to accept them back.

Tips

• Any shop that sells vapes must take old ones back
• Never bin a vape — squashed lithium cells start fires
• Remove pods/tanks if your drop-off asks

Which bin does it go in?

Vape shop or supermarket take-back bins, or recycling centre — NEVER any household bin

Background: Batteries, vapes & electricals: the fire-risk items.

Also searched as: e-cigs, disposable vapes, elf bars, vape pens.