The program does not accept lithium-ion batteries. In 2020, they added vapes and cartridges to the list of materials they accept. The DEA hosts prescription drug take-back events to prevent prescription drug abuse. Sellers often lose money on such programs, which is why there are so few.Īnother option for at least turning in vapes is through the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). The cost for an 11”x11”x 20” box is $135.Ī very few sellers of vaping products offer free products in exchange for vapes or cartridges returned for recycling. They also don’t accept cartridges, ruling out quite a bit of vape waste. TerraCycle does not accept lithium-ion batteries or toxic materials. However, these boxes won’t actually leave you with zero vape waste. TerraCycle offers vape recycling through their mail-in Zero Waste Box. There aren’t many options for recycling vapes. A majority cited lack of clarity and convenience as barriers to proper disposal. Over 50% of respondents reported putting empty vapes either in the trash or in curbside recycling. The Truth Initiative asked a group of 15- to 24-year-olds how they disposed of vape products. Not surprisingly, people who use vaping products are quite confused about proper disposal. Like so many hard-to-recycle items, there is little guidance from manufacturers or the government for how to responsibly dispose of vaping products. Improper disposal of batters can harm consumers and sanitation workers. Under certain conditions, lithium-ion batteries can catch fire or explode. They are classified as hazardous waste and need to be handled properly. Lithium-ion batteries are a bigger problem. Disassembling a vape also poses the risk of spilling the e-liquid. It’s difficult and sometimes impossible to separate them out for recycling. Yet in these small devices, electronic parts such as coils and sensors are mixed in with plastic and glass. Theoretically, you could separate the electronic components and bring them to a facility that accepts e-waste. The electronics in vapes also pose a recycling problem. Don’t dispose of e-liquid in your garbage or recycling bin and never rinse it down the drain. If discarded as litter, the nicotine can contaminate water systems. Nicotine can be poisonous to children, pets, and wildlife. The EPA considers nicotine an acute hazardous waste material. Chemicals in e-liquid ingredients vary widely among manufacturers and regulation of these ingredients is lacking. Marijuana vapes contain sticky THC oil, which makes recycling nearly impossible. The liquid in e-cigarettes contains nicotine and a host of other chemicals. For this reason alone, vaping products are not accepted in curbside recycling. This combination makes it difficult to separate out any single material that might be recyclable. Vapes are made of a mix of materials - usually a combination of glass, metal, and plastic. Mixed Materials Mean a Recycling Headache A mouthpiece that activates the device when the user inhalesĪll those components together make safe disposal complicated.
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