Specialist disposal
What to do with old vapes
Never put a vape in a bin. Take it back to a shop that sells vapes, or to a tip or electrical recycling point.
Binned vapes are a fire risk
GOV.UK warns that throwing vapes away wrongly is a fire risk. Single use vapes have been banned from sale since 1 June 2025. Material Focus estimates 6.3 million vapes and pods are still thrown away each week.
Shops that sell vapes
Vapes are electrical items. GOV.UK says any shop that sells vapes must accept old vapes and parts, such as pods, coils and batteries, for recycling.
Tips and electrical recycling points
Vapes go with small electricals at tips and electrical recycling points.
Key facts
- Binmap lists 1 tip that says it takes vapes.
- Another 722 places may take vapes, but they do not say so. Check before you go.
Last updated: 15 October 2026
Written by Binmap using guidance from GOV.UK and Recycle Your Electricals.
Pages from the organisations involved
Advice from national bodies
What to do
- Keep used vapes and pods apart from other rubbish.
- Hand them in next time you pass a shop that sells vapes.
Mistakes to avoid
- Do not put vapes in your recycling bin either. The battery inside can start a fire.
Kinds of place that take it
- Specialist disposal points
- Electrical recycling points
Other kinds of place
Schemes and collection services
Binmap is independent and is not run by any council.