Do not put a used vape in household trash or curbside recycling. Take it to a household hazardous waste (HHW) collection site or an e-waste or battery drop-off, because every vape contains a lithium-ion battery that can catch fire. This applies to a sealed rechargeable disposable like Zavro Spur and to the battery and pods of a pod system.
Zavro products contain nicotine, which is an addictive chemical, and are for adults 21+. This guide covers where used vapes go, what the EPA says, how to store a device until drop-off and what to do with a damaged one.
Why can't you throw away a vape?
A used vape still has a lithium-ion battery inside, and that battery can catch fire, especially if it is damaged or crushed. Garbage trucks compact their loads and recycling facilities shred and sort material, so a crushed battery in either place can start a fire.
That is the answer to "can you throw away vapes": not in the trash, and not in the curbside recycling bin either. A vape is not ordinary recyclable material, and putting one in a bin sends the battery to exactly the machinery where it does the most damage.
Where do you take used vapes?
Take them to a place that accepts hazardous waste or batteries. Which one is nearest depends on where you live, so check your city, county or state waste agency's website.
- Household hazardous waste (HHW) collection sites. Many counties run permanent sites or scheduled drop-off days for batteries, paint and chemicals.
- E-waste or battery drop-off points. Some electronics and battery collection programs accept small devices with lithium-ion batteries.
- Take-back events. Some areas run periodic collection events where you can bring items that do not belong in the trash.
As for vape recycling and whether vapes can be recycled: a hazardous-waste or e-waste program is the route, because those programs can handle the battery. Call ahead if you are unsure that a site takes vapes.
What does the EPA say?
The EPA's guidance on vape disposal separates businesses and schools from households. Nicotine e-liquid is an acute hazardous waste under the federal waste code P075 for businesses and schools.
Households are exempt from the federal hazardous-waste rules. Even so, the EPA encourages households to keep vapes, with their lithium batteries, out of household trash and to use HHW collection instead.
A retail store that sells vapes should check with its state hazardous-waste agency about its own obligations, and the EPA page is the place to start.
What should you do before you drop a device off?
Use the device up if you can, then stop using it and leave it alone. A little preparation makes the trip easier for you and for the people at the site.
- Find your nearest HHW or e-waste site and check its hours, because some open only on certain days.
- Ask whether it accepts vapes with the e-liquid still inside, since rules differ from site to site.
- Carry devices upright in a closed container, such as a small box, so they do not rattle together.
Do not try to drain the e-liquid or empty a pod yourself. Leave that to the site.
Do state rules vary?
Yes. Some states are stricter than the federal baseline, and local programs differ on what they accept, when and where. Check your state or local waste agency before you go, and follow its rules over any general advice, including this guide.
How do you store used devices until drop-off?
Keep them somewhere cool and dry, away from heat and direct sun, and out of reach of children and pets. A small box or jar with a lid, set on a shelf, works. Do not leave a used vape in a hot car.
- Do not take a device apart to remove the battery.
- Do not puncture or crush it.
- Do not charge a device that looks damaged.
Keep used devices apart from new ones and mark them so nobody in the household mistakes one for a working device. Keeping them in one labeled spot also makes it easy to bring them all in a single trip.
Drop off several at once rather than carrying one at a time, if your site allows it.
What if a device is damaged or swollen?
If a device is swollen, hot or leaking, keep it away from flammable materials such as paper, fabric and furniture, and take it to HHW promptly instead of holding it for a later trip. Do not try to press it flat or open it.
A swollen casing points to a battery problem. Treat it with more urgency than an ordinary used device, and tell the HHW staff when you arrive that it is swollen or leaking so they can handle it appropriately.
How does disposal differ for Spur and Edge?
With Spur, you dispose of the whole device. It is a sealed rechargeable disposable with a battery and 18 mL of e-liquid that cannot be refilled, so when the liquid is gone the entire unit goes to the drop-off. See the rechargeable disposable guide for how Spur works.
With Edge, the pods are replaced while the battery is reused. Empty pods and, eventually, the battery go to the same drop-off. For a side-by-side view of the two formats, read pod system vs disposable vape, or browse the Spur collection.
Frequently asked questions
The answers below cover the basics. In short, a used vape goes to a hazardous-waste or e-waste drop-off, never the trash or recycling bin, and rules vary by state.