How to Properly Dispose of Your Vaporizer

Whether you are using a disposable device or your favorite vaporizer battery, at some point there is going to come a time when it hangs its hat and follows the old dusty trail into oblivion.

That leaves you with the task of disposing of your vaporizer, but how exactly are you supposed to do that? Well that’s why in this Got Vape Blog we are going to give you a handy guide to what’s in your vape, where you should be disposing of them, and why this is so important.

What’s In My Vaporizer?

Your standard vaporizer will be physically constructed from the usual combination of plastic, metal, and lithium ion batteries. While plastic and metal are easier disposed of in the normal trash, the lithium battery within your vaporizer causes most of the danger associated with improperly throwing away your vaporizer.

As a note if your vaporizer uses any sort of cartridge or pod system, never attempt to wash the consents of them down the drain. This can lead to unwanted pollution of chemicals into the water and over toxification of the environment.

What Makes Lithium Ion Batteries Dangerous?

This is due to the fact that lithium batteries are incredibly powerful and dense devices that are filled to the brim with volatile electrochemical energy.

Lithium batteries that are exposed to extreme heats, heavy pressure, or direct body damage are at risk for exploding, catching fire, or leaking chemicals.

Are Disposable Vapes Really Disposable?

The answer is a solid yes and no. One would think that for a device called a “disposable vape”, that disposing of them would be as easy as putting them in the regular trash. Unfortunately that is the last thing you want to do, as these “disposable” vaporizers are no more disposable than typical vaping devices.

The truth is that if you want to keep yourself, others, and the environment safe, then you are going to have to take the time to properly dispose of your vaporizers.

Why Can’t Vapes be Thrown in the Trash?

Due to both the dangers of lithium ion batteries and the potential leakage of your cartridges left over oil, we are officially letting you know that vaporizers should NEVER be thrown away in the standard trash. This is an absolute must for your safety.

When just casually thrown in the trash, there is still potential energy stored within your vape’s battery, so the risk of it being unleashed and causing the spark that starts the fire is omnipresent. All it takes is one little twist of fate and your vaporizer that’s been lying dormant at the bottom of the trash will turn into Smokey the Bear’s worst nightmare.

When Should I Dispose of My Vape?

According to the US Fire Administration if you notice an odd odors, change in shape, excessive heat, or weird noises coming from your vaporizer's battery, this is a sign that your battery is in trouble. If you notice any of these you should no longer continue to use your vaporizer, place it somewhere safe, and look into methods of proper disposal.

Where Should I Dispose of My Vape?

Now to the golden question, how do I dispose of my vaporizer? In order to safely and properly get rid of your device we recommend going online to do a quick search for “household hazardous waste collection sites near me”.

Additionally you could search for “household hazardous waste collection” and then add in your city or towns name to get a full list of what is closest to you.

Both searches will provide you with a host of different locations where you can drop off your expired vaporizers to trained professionals who know how to safely recycle them. For the vast majority of these sites drop off is 100% free, so all you have to do is make the trip and then rest easy knowing you did the right thing by our environment.

While this is obviously much more time consuming than throwing it in the trash, it is 100% worth it to protect the wellbeing of those around you and to make sure you don’t get caught footing the bill for burning down the apt complex…

Other recycling points can be found at grocery stores, electronics stores, and miscellaneous businesses that take the time to help people safely dispose of their devices. These will be on a case by case basis, but keep your eyes open next time you're out on the town and we bet you will see one that’s convenient for you.

If you do find a site like this, check with the owners to make sure your vaporizer is okay to dispose of there first to ensure proper rules are followed.

In Conclusion

If there was one take away we wanted you to go home with today, it’s that you should never under any circumstances throw a vaporizer away in the normal trash. This is incredibly dangerous to you, those around you, and the environment, so next time you see someone about to toss their vape let them know there is a better way.

While incredibly convenient, vaporizing does still have some caveats, which is why we hope you take the time to properly dispose of your vaporizers from now on!

For more tips and vaping news, make sure to check out our Got Vape Blog here!