In the UK, it is now illegal to supply or sell single-use vapes.
For more information, read our full guide to this legislation, and the penalties for breaking the law.
If you used to sell disposable vapes, then you may find yourself with a lot of leftover stock that’s now unsellable. In this post we’ll explain how you can safely dispose of this stock, and how you should store it before disposal.
If you sell vapes, either online or offline, we can help you get the specialist vape insurance you need at a price you can afford. For more information, call us on 0208 290 9080 or email ecig@anthonyjones.com.
How to Dispose of Your Disposable Vape Stock
As you can no longer sell disposable vapes, you will have to dispose of them. But this doesn’t mean you should throw them in the bin!
Why Can’t You Throw Disposable Vape Stock In The Bin?
Disposable vapes contain:
- Plastic – and there are major concerns about the scale of plastic pollution across the world.
- Valuable resources, like Copper and lithium batteries, that will be squandered if the vapes are just thrown away.
- Lithium batteries which have fire risks associated with incorrectly disposing of them.
For these reasons, you will need to use a specialist service to dispose of your unsellable single-use vapes.
How to Recycle Disposable Vapes
- Single-Use Vape Disposal Services
There are numerous companies offering dedicated vape recycling services. In most cases, they will provide you with bins or boxes in which you can collect and store your single-use vapes. Once full, they will collect these bins or boxes from you, and safely dispose of the vapes on your behalf.
Here are some of the disposable vape recycling schemes in the UK:
- VapeDrop UK
- Valpak Vape Take-Back Scheme
- Biffa’s national vape collection and recycling scheme
- Haztech Waste vape recycling services
- Contact the Manufacturers
You could also try contacting the disposable vape manufacturers, to see if they offer any recycling services.
- Local Recycling Centres
You may be able to dispose of your single-use vapes yourself, if you take them to a household recycling centre, or a dedicated electrical recycling centre. But best to check with your local council first.
How to Store Your Single-Use Vapes Before Disposal
Under the new legislation, if you still have any disposable vapes in stock after the ban, before you recycle them, you must:
- Remove them from your shopfloor, or your online store.
- Store them separately from the rest of your stock.
- Clearly label them as “unsellable” or “not for sale”.
These steps will ensure that no customers will be able to buy them, while also preventing the risk of members of staff accidentally restocking them.
Read our full guide to complying with the new disposable vape legislation.
Specialist Cover For Vape Shops
If you sell vapes, either online or offline, we can help you get the specialist vape insurance you need at a price you can afford. We can also advise you on how your cover needs may change if you need to switch from selling disposable vapes to reusable vapes. For more information, call us on 0208 290 9080 or email ecig@anthonyjones.com.
