Proper disposal of vape batteries

In all the debate about the benefits of vaping , there is one issue that is often overlooked and rarely mentioned, which is how to properly dispose of leftover batteries.

There are millions of vapers in the world, and every six months or a year, they throw away the same number of expired vape batteries . Especially disposable cigs, it can be said that the number of discarded batteries and disposable coils can be stacked up into a mountain.

Often, vapers choose to throw their old batteries in the bin, even though they may still have some life left. “That’s one of the challenges we face,” says Mark Hall of Businesswaste, a UK waste management company. “People don’t know how to recycle their vapes, so some of them end up in the waste that would normally go into landfill. That’s something we try to avoid.”

Whether it’s a vape mod or a vape pen, all e-cigarette devices run on batteries. Some last longer, but eventually they need to be discarded and replaced. Remember, batteries contain a lot of chemicals that can be harmful to the environment.

This problem doesn't just affect vapers. In 2014, only 4-5 percent of Li-ion batteries were properly disposed of.

One suggested solution is for vape shops to follow the example of White Cloud in Florida. According to RecyclingPortal, “Unlike the UK, which has had problems with how it handles e-cigarette waste, White Cloud runs a battery recycling program in the US. They do this by partnering with Big Green Box, a government-licensed recycler in Anaheim, California. What’s more, White Cloud is the first store to produce disposable e-cigarettes from BPA-free, food-grade plastic.”

Vapers have always been reminded to be responsible when using e-cigarettes. Now it’s time to remind them to find ways to properly dispose of their vape waste. It’s funny how vapers can get so many benefits from using e-cigarettes, but affect the environment because they don’t know how to properly dispose of and recycle their expired batteries.

If there is no recycling center near you, keep your old batteries in a separate place and wait for the opportunity to dispose of them properly instead of throwing them in the trash. Your actions, no matter how small, can help protect the environment, so be a responsible vaper.