How do you recycle a vape? Guide to recycling vape batteries in Sweden
A vape contains electronics, metal, plastic and, in many cases, a built-in lithium-ion battery. Therefore, a used or exhausted vape should not be thrown in household waste. Instead, it should be handled as electrical waste or taken to an approved collection point for electronics and batteries.
This applies to disposable vapes, rechargeable vape devices, pod systems and loose vape batteries. The difference is how the product is constructed and whether the battery can be removed or not.
Quick answer: where should you throw away a vape?
An exhausted vape should be taken for recycling as electrical waste. If the battery is built in, which is common in many disposable vapes and pod systems, the entire device should be handed in as small electronics. If the battery is removable, the battery should be disposed of according to the municipality's instructions for batteries, while the device itself should be disposed of as electrical waste.
Do not throw a vape in combustible waste, plastic packaging, metal packaging or ordinary household waste. It contains electronic components and may also contain a lithium-ion battery.
Why is a vape considered electrical waste?
A vape is an electronic product. Among other things, it contains a battery, circuit board, contact points, wires and other electronic components that allow the liquid to be heated and vaporized.
This means that an exhausted vape should be handled in roughly the same way as other small electronics. Examples of similar products include electric toothbrushes, headphones, rechargeable lamps and smaller electronic devices with built-in batteries.
This is particularly relevant for disposable vapes, as the battery is often built into the device and is not intended to be removed by the user.
How do you recycle a disposable vape?
A disposable vape is normally handed in as small electronics or electrical waste. Since the battery is often built in, you should not try to open the device yourself. Breaking open or puncturing a device with a lithium-ion battery can pose a risk, especially if the battery is damaged or short-circuits.
Do the following:
- Let the device cool down if it has recently been used.
- Store it in a dry and safe place until it is handed in.
- Take it to a recycling centre, environmental station or other collection point for electrical waste.
- Always follow your municipality's local sorting instructions.
If the device is leaking, swollen, smells strange or has become hot without being used, it should be handled with extra care and handed in according to the municipality's advice for damaged electrical waste or battery waste.
How do you recycle a rechargeable vape?
A rechargeable vape may have either a built-in battery or a removable battery. This determines how it should be handled when it is used up.
If the battery is built in, the entire device should be disposed of as electrical waste. If the battery is removable, for example a separate 18650 battery, the battery should be handed in separately for battery collection and the device itself should be disposed of as electronics.
For products such as rechargeable vapes, pre-filled pod kits and other rechargeable systems, it is therefore important to distinguish between the device itself, the pod and the battery if the product is designed for this.
Should you remove the battery before recycling?
Only remove the battery if the product is designed for this. Many modern vape devices have built-in batteries that are not intended to be dismantled by the user. In such cases, the entire product should be handed in as electrical waste.
If, on the other hand, the device uses loose batteries, for example certain mods and more advanced vape devices, the battery should be removed according to the product's instructions and handed in for battery collection.
Do not attempt to cut, break, puncture or open a battery. Lithium-ion batteries can pose a fire risk if they are damaged, short-circuited or handled incorrectly.
Where can you leave old vapes?
The most common option is to leave exhausted vapes at a recycling centre or another municipal collection point for electrical waste. Many municipalities also have special collection solutions for small electronics and batteries.
Exact procedures may vary between municipalities. It is therefore best to check the local sorting guide where you live. Look for categories such as electrical waste, small electronics, batteries or products with built-in batteries.
Can you throw a vape in the regular rubbish?
No, a vape should not be thrown in the regular rubbish. This also applies if it is empty of e-liquid or no longer works. The product contains electronics and may contain a battery, which means it should be handed in for separate collection.
Throwing battery-powered products in household waste can create problems in waste management. Lithium-ion batteries can be damaged, short-circuited or cause fires if they end up in the wrong part of the waste stream.
What happens to a vape after recycling?
When a vape is handed in for electrical waste collection, it is sorted together with other small electronics. The product is then handled in special processes where electronics, metals and batteries are taken care of.
The aim is to separate materials that can be recycled while handling batteries and electronic components safely. Metals and other materials can in some cases be recycled and reused, while parts that cannot be recycled are handled according to applicable waste management procedures.
Why is recycling vape batteries important?
Vape batteries contain materials that do not belong in ordinary waste. Lithium-ion batteries are used in many rechargeable products because they can store a lot of energy in a small format. At the same time, they need to be handled correctly when the product has been used up.
Proper recycling reduces the risk of fires in the waste management chain and ensures that valuable materials can be recovered. It is also part of the producer responsibility that applies to batteries and electronic products in Sweden and the EU.
How does recycling differ between different vape products?
| Product | How it is normally recycled |
|---|---|
| Disposable vape | Handed in as small electronics/electrical waste. The battery is often built in. |
| Rechargeable vape with built-in battery | The entire device is handed in as electrical waste. |
| Vape with removable battery | The battery is handed in for battery collection and the device as electrical waste. |
| Pre-filled pod | Follow the municipality's instructions. The pod often contains plastic, metal and traces of e-liquid. |
| Loose vape batteries | Handed in for battery collection, preferably with the terminals taped if there is a risk of short-circuiting. |
Common mistakes when recycling vapes
- Throwing a disposable vape in household waste.
- Putting a vape in the plastic or metal packaging collection.
- Trying to break open a disposable vape to remove the battery.
- Storing old batteries loose together with keys, coins or metal objects.
- Throwing away damaged batteries without checking the municipality's instructions.
How is this connected to the EU's battery regulations?
The EU Battery Regulation imposes increased requirements on how batteries should be designed, collected and recycled. The aim is for batteries to be handled more sustainably throughout their entire life cycle, from production to waste.
This affects not only large batteries in vehicles and energy storage systems, but also smaller batteries in consumer products. Therefore, recycling vape batteries is an important part of the broader development concerning electronic waste and battery responsibility.
We have also written more about this in the article EU battery regulations 2027 – will vapes and e-cigarettes be affected?.
How to think as a consumer
The simplest way to do the right thing is to see a vape as a small electronic product, not as ordinary rubbish. If the product has a battery, charging port, LED light, circuit board or other electronics, it should not be thrown in household waste.
For those who use rechargeable products, it may also be useful to know the difference between built-in and removable batteries. The vape batteries category includes examples of loose batteries and battery-related products that require proper handling when used up.
How to recycle a vape correctly
A vape should not be thrown in the regular rubbish. Since the product contains electronics and often a lithium-ion battery, it should be taken for recycling as electrical waste. Disposable vapes and other products with built-in batteries are normally handed in whole, while loose batteries are handed in separately for battery collection.
By leaving old vapes in the right place, you reduce the risk of fires in waste management and materials can be handled in a more controlled manner.
Sources
- Swedish Environmental Protection Agency – producer responsibility for batteries
- El-Kretsen – recycling of batteries and electrical waste
- Swedish Electrical Safety Authority – safety risks associated with batteries
- EU Battery Regulation 2023/1542
