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Disposable vapes have become increasingly popular due to their convenience, but they create a significant amount of waste (1). At Totally Wicked, we believe it’s our duty as a responsible vaping brand to address this issue and to provide easily-accessed disposable vape recycling. That’s why we’re excited to announce our partnership with WasteCare, a sustainability solutions provider, to continue our national vape recycling initiative.
We’ve already installed vape disposal bins in over 150 of our stores nationwide where our customers can return any brand of vape bought from any retailer for free. Our vape recycling store programme is a convenient and effective way for vapers to dispose of their used devices, while reducing waste and promoting sustainable vaping.
Disposable Vape Recycling with Totally Wicked and WasteCare
We’ve teamed up with WasteCare, one of only a handful of Approved Authorised Treatment Facilities (AATF) that can recycle vape products effectively, to provide a comprehensive disposable vape recycling scheme. This scheme offers vapers an environmentally-friendly way to dispose of their used devices. Our industry-leading recycling programme aims to prevent used vapes from ending up in landfill and littering our streets. How will we achieve this? By recycling valuable components and returning them to the manufacturing supply chain. In fact, your used vape could have a whole new life!
Marcus Saxton, Totally Wicked CEO and Chairman of the Independent British Vape Trade Association (IBVTA) spoke on the scheme
"As a responsible vaping brand, we recognise that it’s not enough to simply sell high-quality vaping products. We must also take responsibility for the environmental impact of those products and work to minimise it as much as possible. By providing a comprehensive recycling program for vapes and offering sustainable alternatives like the VLTZ range, we’re taking concrete steps to reduce waste and promote sustainability within the vaping industry. We believe that this is an essential part of our duty as a responsible and ethical business."
We encourage all vapers to join us in our efforts to create a more sustainable future. Together, we can promote responsible vaping and reduce our environmental impact.
Why Can't I Just Throw My Disposable Vape Away?
Disposable vapes are becoming a growing concern for our environment due to the huge amount of waste they generate. When disposed of incorrectly, they end up in landfills, where they can take hundreds of years to decompose. As they break down, they release harmful chemicals and pollutants into the soil and water. This can cause significant harm to the environment.
Furthermore, these vapes contain lithium-ion batteries that can cause fires if not disposed of correctly. Fires in landfills can be difficult to control. They lead to the release of dangerous chemicals and gases that can harm people and the environment.
Can I put used vapes in my household recycling bin?
We don’t recommend you put vapes in your household recycling bin. This is because vapes are classified as electronic waste (e-waste), which requires special treatment and handling. Household recycling bins are not equipped to handle e-waste. E-waste contains components that can be harmful to the environment if not properly disposed of. In addition, the batteries in vapes are classified as hazardous waste and so need to be handled and disposed of properly. When you put vapes in household recycling bins, they run the risk of being mishandled. This can cause fires or explosions during the sorting process.
How Can I Participate in the Vape Recycling Scheme?
You can participate in the Vape Recycling Scheme by visiting any of our participating Totally Wicked stores nationwide. Simply drop off any brand of used vapes that you’ve bought from any retailer for free.
What products can I return to Totally Wicked stores for recycling?
You can return any brand of disposable or refillable vape to our stores to be recycled. We’ll accept any vape, regardless of where it was purchased from.
What happens to the used vapes that I drop off at a Totally Wicked store?
Once you drop off your used vapes at a Totally Wicked store, they'll be transferred to a safe, fire-retardant storage solution by our store team. They are then collected and taken away for disposable vape recycling by WasteCare. We then recycle the valuable components and return them to the manufacturing supply chain. The remaining non-recyclable waste is sent to a waste-to-energy facility to be converted into energy.
What are the benefits of the Vape Recycling Scheme?
The Vape Recycling Scheme aims to prevent used vapes from ending up in landfill and littering our streets. We do this by recycling valuable components and returning them to the manufacturing supply chain.
What if I don't have a Totally Wicked store local to me?
If you don’t have a Totally Wicked store nearby, there are still options for disposing of your vape in an environmentally-friendly way. You can check with your local council to see if they offer a specific recycling program for electronic waste (WEEE). Some councils have dedicated WEEE recycling facilities or collections for electronic waste, including vapes.
If your council doesn’t have a dedicated program for electronic waste, you can also check with local recycling centres to see if they accept electronic waste and provide disposable vape recycling. However, not all recycling centres accept electronic waste, so it’s important to check beforehand
Can I return my used vapes in the post?
Unfortunately, we can't accept vapes returned in the post due to the potential fire risk associated with lithium-ion batteries. Our disposable vape recycling scheme is only available at stores.
When you return your vape to one of our Totally Wicked stores, we ensure that it’s stored safely in a fire-retardant solution until it’s collected for recycling. This makes sure that the batteries are handled with care and the risk of any incidents is minimised.
How Else Can I Reduce Waste From Vaping?
Recycling isn't the only way you can reduce your vape waste. By switching to longer-lasting, rechargeable devices and refillable e-liquids, we can all do our part in reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills (2). The VLTZ range has the same intense flavours of disposables. However they include a rechargeable battery and refillable e-liquid pods for a more sustainable vaping solution.
References
(1) https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2022-0216/
