How to dispose of vape pods and cartridges?
Problems with waste
The emphasis on recycling has been growing in recent years and locally it has been possible to combat the excessive amount of waste and incorrect sorting, but it is far from an ideal situation and the burden on nature and its resources is still quite high. People have learned to distinguish between bio-waste, glass, paper, plastics. But for the rest, they hesitate or are simply lazy, assuming that occasional and minor transgressions will get lost in the overwhelming amount of waste. The opposite is true. As soon as there is plastic in the paper, for example, it goes to the hand-picking line so that the material can go on to be processed, without any sorting errors, for the second time. Unfortunately, this incurs unnecessary costs in terms of auxiliary labour and energy for the operation and increases municipal waste collection fees. It seems like a ridiculous exaggeration to say that everyone should start with themselves, because every little thing counts. However, in the end it is a vicious circle, whereby by not sorting consistently, people contribute to energy prices and waste.
This raises the question of how to sort and recycle vape pods and cartridges, the consumption of which is soaring.
On your own responsibility
It doesn't matter whether it's the device itself, the batteries or the e-liquids, each user is responsible for disposing of their waste without negatively impacting the environment. But you have to break it down into its individual parts and sort it separately, because not all components belong in the same bin. Once you understand how to proceed, you will find that it is not complicated. It's the same as with a yoghurt cup, where you put the plastic cup, the paper wrapper and the aluminium lid in a different place.
E-liquid and capsule cartridges
The biggest problem is that each manufacturer uses a different material. So there is no muster on how to proceed. You have to follow the instructions on the cartridge. Most of the time, however, you will find a label for recycling and simple pictograms to guide you.
Cartridges and capsules should first be rinsed and cleaned of all dirt and e-liquid residue. Disassemble vape pods and cartridges into the smallest possible parts and separate them into plastic, glass and metal. And wash again.
Refillable tanks
Refillable e-liquid tanks are inherently more environmentally friendly options than disposable cartridges. However, they too are subject to normal wear and tear and won't last forever. Again, wash them to avoid polluting the environment with e-liquid residue, and disassemble them according to waste type and dispose of them in the appropriate containers.
Batteries
Battery life depends on how often you use the device. Over time, it starts to lose capacity. They normally last between six and twelve months. Once it can't fully charge or doesn't stay charged for very long, it's time for a replacement. On the other hand, you can extend the life of the battery slightly by not leaving it plugged in for too long.
Ironically, battery disposal is the easiest part of the whole process. You can probably guess that a battery contains a plethora of hazardous substances that could do great damage to the environment. They are therefore not suitable to be thrown in the bin with the rest of the waste. Find a collection point or bin specifically for batteries and sort them consistently.
The website of your municipality (city) usually has all the information about collection points and sorting options. There are also detailed instructions on how to navigate the recycling of different materials, colours or pictograms.
Disposable vape pods
Many people are sceptical about disposable devices, as they create unnecessary waste that needs to be sorted and recycled (devices that can be used repeatedly and for a long time are more environmentally friendly). In the UK alone, there is talk of three million vape pods a week. But as long as users recycle honestly, there shouldn't be much of a problem in using them.
Keep in mind, however, that the materials used to make vaping equipment take hundreds of years to decompose.
- Plastic needs at least a hundred years (thin PET bottle)
- Aluminium breaks down after fifty years
- Harder metals last up to five hundred years
- Batteries also last up to five hundred years
- Glass will probably never decompose
In addition, batteries contain acids that pose an environmental hazard to nature. Vaping is now a normal part of life, but there is no point in taking a step back and turning a blind eye to the need to recycle. That is part of it, too.
Summary
The issue of recycling does not avoid vaporisation devices and their accessories. But you have to break them down into small parts and sort them by material. Batteries are separate and go to collection points or special bins. You can usually find their location on the official website of the city or municipality.
Photo: Shutterstock
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