Did you know that you shouldn’t dispose of your used vape in your non-recyclable (general) waste or recycling bin?
Single-use vapes contain lithium batteries which are prone to causing fires if damaged when placed in your bin or picked up in our waste trucks. 1.3 million single-use vapes are binned every week and should be recycled instead to ensure safe disposal and recovery of the valuable metals their batteries contain, for example aluminium, copper and lithium.
When you purchase a new vape, the retailer has a legal responsibility to take back your old vape for safe disposal or advise where the nearest safe disposal site is.
Alternatively you can dispose of your vape by removing the battery (if this is possible) and disposing of the vape and battery separately in a small electricals container and a battery recycling point, both of which can be found at your local recycling centre.
e-Waste or Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) is one of the fastest growing sources of waste in the world with 155,000 tonnes thrown away each year by us. But you can help to reduce this by taking unwanted WEEE such as hairdryers and toasters to our recycling centres or one of three WEEE recycling banks situated at neighbourhood recycling points in Arbroath's Westway Retail Park, Friockheim's park on Farnell Road and Birkhill's Millennium Hall car park - they also accept vapes.