Recycle vape devices and batteries at a household waste recycling centre or a retailer take-back point, never in household bins. Empty Vampire Vape bottles can often go in plastic recycling, depending on your council’s rules.
Switching to refillable e-liquid such as Vampire Vape cuts a lot of waste, but it does not remove the need to recycle. Pod kits and mods still contain lithium-ion batteries, and coils, pods and bottles all need to go somewhere once they are finished.
This guide explains where each part of a UK vaping setup should go, from rechargeable devices and loose batteries to used coils and empty 10ml and 100ml bottles. It also covers what changed after the disposable vape ban and the safety steps that prevent bin fires.
Why Should You Never Put a Vape in the Bin?
You should never put a vape in a household bin because its lithium-ion battery can be crushed in a bin lorry or recycling plant and start a fire. According to Recycle Your Electricals, more than 6 million vapes and pods are binned in the UK every week, and over 1,200 fires in a single year were caused by binned vapes and electricals.
Vapes are classed as waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). That is why most devices carry a crossed-out wheelie bin symbol, which means the item must be kept out of general waste and taken to a separate collection point.
Where Can You Recycle a Vape in the UK?
You can recycle a vape at any household waste recycling centre, at a retailer that sells vapes, or through a postal take-back scheme. The main options are:
- Household waste recycling centres: every centre has bins for small electricals and batteries.
- Vape shops and online retailers: sellers of vapes must provide a way for customers to return old devices under WEEE regulations.
- Supermarket and roadside electrical bins: some supermarkets, car parks and roadside areas host small electrical recycling points.
- Postal take-back schemes: some manufacturers and online sellers accept devices by post, sometimes including other brands.
How Do You Recycle Each Part of a Vape Setup?
Each part of a vaping setup has a different disposal route, because only some parts contain batteries. Use this table to sort your items.
| Item | Where it goes | Key note |
|---|---|---|
| Pod kit or mod with a built-in battery | Small electricals bin or retailer take-back | Do not open the device or remove the battery yourself |
| Removable 18650 or 21700 battery | Battery recycling point | Tape over the terminals first |
| Prefilled pod kit or big-puff style device | Small electricals bin or retailer take-back | Treat as a battery-containing electrical item |
| Empty refillable pods and used coils | Usually general waste | Check your council, as rules differ |
| Empty Vampire Vape 10ml or 100ml bottle | Household plastic recycling, if accepted | Check the recycling symbol and council guidance |
| Bottle with leftover e-liquid | Ask your council or recycling centre | Keep the cap closed and out of reach of children |
| Cardboard outer packaging | Paper and card recycling | Remove any plastic film |
How Do You Recycle Vampire Vape Bottles?
To recycle Vampire Vape bottles, finish the liquid completely, then check the recycling symbol and your council’s plastics guidance. Vampire Vape sells nicotine e-liquid in 10ml bottles and nicotine-free Koncept shortfills in 100ml bottles, and whether they are accepted kerbside varies by local authority.
Leftover liquid is the part to handle carefully. Nicotine e-liquid is sold in child-resistant bottles for good reason, so keep the cap closed on any bottle that is not empty and ask your household waste recycling centre how it wants partly used liquid handled. Do not leave part-full bottles loose in recycling boxes where children or pets could reach them.
The simplest way to reduce bottle waste is to buy the format that matches how much you vape. Regular sub-ohm vapers produce fewer bottles with a 100ml shortfill, while pod users typically get five refills from each 10ml bottle, because UK pods hold a maximum of 2ml.
What Changed After the UK Disposable Vape Ban?
Since 1 June 2025, single-use disposable vapes can no longer be sold in the UK, so most adults now use rechargeable, refillable devices. That shift reduces the number of devices thrown away, but it does not remove battery waste.
Rechargeable pod kits last far longer than disposables, yet they still reach the end of their life eventually. Prefilled pod systems also generate used pods. Retailers’ WEEE take-back duties continue to apply, so the shop or website where you buy your next device remains one of the easiest places to return the old one.
How Can Vapers Produce Less Waste?
Vapers produce less waste by choosing longer-lasting hardware and buying liquid in formats that match their usage. Practical changes include:
- Choosing refillable pods with replaceable coils: you replace a small coil rather than a whole pod or device.
- Replacing coils only when needed: change a coil when flavour turns muted or burnt, not on a fixed schedule.
- Buying the right bottle size: sub-ohm users generate fewer bottles with 100ml shortfills; pod users suit 10ml bottles.
- Looking after the battery: use the supplied cable, avoid leaving devices in hot cars and store them away from metal objects.
- Returning old kits when you upgrade: hand the old device back at the point of purchase so it enters the recycling stream.
How to Recycle a Vape Safely: Step by Step
To recycle a vape safely, empty it, protect the battery and take it to an electrical collection point. Follow these steps:
- Use up or remove the e-liquid left in the pod or tank.
- Remove the battery only if the device is designed for it to be taken out.
- Cover the terminals of loose batteries with tape to prevent short circuits.
- Store old devices in a bag, away from heat, until you can drop them off.
- Take devices to a recycling centre, electrical bin or retailer take-back point.
- Put empty bottles and card packaging in household recycling where your council accepts them.
Stop using any battery that is swollen, leaking or unusually hot, and contact your local recycling centre for advice before transporting it.
If you are moving to refillable nic salts to cut waste, the Vampire Vape e-liquid range at Grey Haze lists every bottle size and strength. For retailer-specific drop-off and postal options, this UK vape recycling guide explains the process in more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you put vapes in the recycling bin?
No. Vapes contain lithium-ion batteries and must go to an electrical recycling point or retailer take-back, not household rubbish or mixed recycling.
Do vape shops have to take back old vapes?
Yes. Under WEEE regulations, businesses that sell vapes, including online sellers, must provide a way for customers to recycle old devices.
Can you recycle used vape coils?
Used coils are usually treated as general waste because they are small metal and cotton parts without batteries. Check your council, as rules vary.
Are e-liquid bottles recyclable?
Often, yes. Empty e-liquid bottles can go in household plastic recycling where your council accepts that plastic type. Check the symbol on the bottle.
What should I do with a swollen vape battery?
Stop using it immediately, keep it away from heat and metal objects, and ask your local recycling centre how to dispose of it safely.
Vape products containing nicotine are for adults aged 18 and over only.