How to Dispose of Your Vape Responsibly in Canada

Many smokers have since switched to vaping products due to their tobacco-free nature. However, it has brought another issue among vape users in Canada, and that is vape waste.

A lot of them tend to struggle with disposing of their used vaping products. If you’re one of them, then you should follow a number of things so you can get rid of these items responsibly. This allows you to reduce the environmental impact of your vape and ensure responsible vape use.

Knowing the components of your vape in the first place lets you fully understand why it shouldn’t be tossed into the household trash. 

Vaping devices, no matter their type, feature the following components: the battery, the heating element (coil and wick), the e-liquid residue, and the outer casing or shell. They then each require a different approach to disposal.

The battery is the most critical part of a vaping device, with lithium-ion as the most notable option for modern vapes. While they are highly valued for recycling, they could pose a fire risk when handled or discarded improperly. Since the internal materials of vape batteries are meant to be retrieved and reused, they must be separated from landfills.

Another component of a vaping device is the heating element. It is comprised of a metal coil and an absorbent wick that are all integrated with the electronics of the vape. Their metal content may be minuscule, but it still contributes to the overall electronic waste (e-waste) profile of the vape. Therefore, they should be saved through specialized recycling processes to achieve responsible vape disposal.

Finally, there’s the e-liquid residue and the outer shell.

Although the e-liquid is typically near depletion, any remaining content must not be poured down the drain, as it will only introduce harmful substances into the water system. The plastic or metal outer shell is likewise bound to the internal electronics. Hence, the entire vaping device must be treated as e-waste, not standard plastic or garbage.

Treating the whole unit as e-waste can make sure that facilities can handle its complex composition of plastic, metals, and battery chemicals, process them safely, and recover or even recycle the valuable materials. 

Canadian provinces and various industry programs have made disposable vape disposal quite straightforward. You just have to remember that your vaping device is considered e-waste. Hence, you must separate it from your regular household trash bins.

One thing you can do is to separate whatever you can from your vaping device.

Despite being sealed, you can still separate it from easily detachable items like the original plastic packaging, outer cardboard boxes, or clip-on silicone mouthpieces. You can throw these things in your regular local recycling stream. Removing them firsthand can help streamline the disposal process at e-waste facilities.

Of course, don’t attempt to dismantle the sealed internal components of the vape since it can be dangerous and hazardous.

The most effective way of discarding disposable vapes is by maximizing established e-waste or battery recycling centres. Their main purpose is to dismantle and recycle the mixed components found in electronics safely, including lithium-ion batteries.

As of writing, Canada has several provincial and territorial programs where you can send your disposable vape. You can likewise drop off your used vaping devices to national organizations like Call2Recycle and Electronic Recycling Association (ERA), as well as community recycling depots. Even some retail vape stores have taken the initiative to offer in-store collection bins of used vaping devices and batteries.

Just make sure to check your local recycling program or e-waste centre for accepted types of disposable vapes. 

If you own a vape, one thing you should always remember is to never throw it into your regular trash bin once it’s stopped working. Its small lithium-ion battery inside can still retain a charge despite being spent. Once the device is punctured, crushed, or exposed to heat, it could short-circuit due to its volatile nature. It can then cause sparks and fire.

Just imagine a disposable vape being compacted inside a garbage truck or piled in a landfill. It isn’t only harmful to the people surrounding it, but it may also cause fires. Going for specialized disposal routes can essentially protect both people and property.

You should handle the battery of your rechargeable vaping device safely once it runs out of e-liquid. Disposables mostly contain lithium-ion cells. And while they tend to last a long time, they eventually require replacement and proper disposal.

Storing batteries that have reached the end of their life properly is a must until you can discard them. The first thing you should do is keep them in a cool, dry place. You must also separate them from objects like keys or coins to avoid bridging the terminals and causing a short-circuit. During transport, you must cover their terminals with a small piece of clear tape for extra safety.

Disposal options for vape batteries can be quite extensive. Almost all e-waste recycling stations accept them. But to make things easier, you can opt for dedicated collection points in major hardware stores or through community programs to help recycle them more easily.

It’s important to note that recycling guidelines could vary across the country. That’s why you must always check those that apply to your location. This allows you to find the closest and most appropriate drop-off location for your old vaping devices. It also ensures you can manage the hazardous components of your batteries correctly. In turn, recycling centres can recover valuable materials from your devices optimally.

To build a more sustainable approach towards proper vape disposal, you should adopt responsible practices and habits around vaping. When you carry the following out, you can help reduce e-waste right from the very beginning of your vaping journey.

First, you could veer away from single-use models and go for rechargeable vapes or pod systems. Even if they contain batteries and need to be disposed of in the future, they can still significantly cut the total volume of e-waste over time.

Small habits can likewise make a huge difference.

Storing your used disposables and batteries properly until you can send them to a recycling centre can become a habit that you may want to carry out. You can even make a new routine of dropping off old devices at recognized collection points and picking up new ones. 

Lastly, you can teach other vape users how to dispose of their old vaping devices. This way, you can help normalize the practice and further reduce environmental impact.

It takes a few simple steps for vape users like you to ensure safety and environmental integrity. You can enjoy your device while being committed to conscious consumption and reducing your ecological footprint by sending it to local recycling programs, battery collection points, and e-waste centres.

Most vapes contain lithium-ion batteries and other toxic components. This is why you should treat them as hazardous waste. You can dispose of them safely by taking them to a designated e-waste facility. It’s important that you tape over the battery contacts for safety.

You can dispose of your used vapes by sending them to participating drop-off locations in Canada through programs like Call2Recycle’s Recycle Your Vapes. You can also bring them to some local electronics recycling centres, vape shops, and municipal hazardous waste depots.

No. Throwing your vape in the regular trash is not safe since it contains lithium-ion batteries, which can short-circuit, overheat, and ultimately cause fire.