Climate change has become somewhat of a contentious issue at present, providing enough topical debate to last a lifetime. Unfortunately, unless the vast majority of people at the top of the system buck up their ideas and introduce progressive environmental legislation, then there won’t be a lifetime to debate. We are constantly told the damage we’ve caused to the planet is catastrophic, with the need to become more sustainable as a species as vital as it ever will be. Please note that the materials that can be recycled differs depending on your local authorities. Please check what you can recycle in your area here - https://www.recyclenow.com/recycling-locator
Fortunately, the regular person can make a difference and that ultimately extends to their habits, particularly when it comes to nicotine consumption.
Just by being a regular smoker, the damage exacted on the environment is almost unbelievable.
Over a lifetime 'approximately 352 trees are destroyed for every smoker which equates to around 6 per year. This equates to a tree being destroyed for every 15 packs of cigarettes consumed'.
For every discarded cigarette butt, over 600 carcinogenic chemicals are released into the earth’s atmosphere which erodes our habitat at an alarming rate. As well as this Mt Baker Vapor goes on to say, ‘The tobacco industry releases 22 millions tons of CO2 into the atmosphere annually. There are 5.5 trillion cigarettes produced per year, therefore 0.03066 tons of CO2 is released per cigarette’.
We examine how by simply switching to vaping, you’re not just greatly reducing the harm on your body caused by cigarettes, but are also helping the climate through the impact of proper waste disposal and reducing your carbon footprint. Although there’s still scope for improvement in the vape industry to tackle this problem fully, we’ll talk you through the facts of how and why you can preserve the planet for future generations.
Here’s a generic breakdown of each part of the vape kit that can be recycled:
A vape mod is essentially the brain of a vape kit, providing power as well as a chipset to dictate vapour production.
What Is It Made Of?
Where Can This Be Recycled?
Does It Need Any Special Treatment Before Disposing Of/Recycling?
A vape tank contains and heats e-liquid, turning it into inhalable vapour.
What Is It Made Of?
Where Can This Be Recycled?
Does It Need Any Special Treatment Before Disposing Of/Recycling?
Vape coils are used in tanks. Each one is fitted with a wrapped wire and a cotton wick, to soak and heat up e-liquid which turns it into vapour.
What Is It Made Of?
Where Can This Be Recycled?
Does It Need Any Special Treatment Before Disposing Of/Recycling?
E-liquid bottles hold e-liquid when not in a vape tank, whilst cartridges provide the same function as a vape tank in a specialist format to suit the pod device.
What Is It Made Of?
Where Can This Be Recycled?
Does It Need Any Special Treatment Before Disposing Of/Recycling?
As highlighted above, the basic components of a conventional vape kit; a battery mod, tank and coils, can be recycled once cleaned of any toxic nicotine residue. The main concern of correct disposal is cotton wick, that essentially e-liquid saturates into, which need to be removed from the coils before being recycled. As well as this, removable batteries being can be correctly recycled into battery disposal bins, which are very common nowadays. Other than that, the vast majority of the materials (plastic, cardboard, rubber and metal) used in vaping equipment can be disposed of in standard home recycling bins including e-liquid bottles, packaging and devices.
It’s always recommended to check the product box or packaging whether an item is recyclable, particularly in terms of pre-filled pod kits or integrated battery devices as due to their often non-disassembly construction they cannot be recycled correctly. This is where in truth, the vape industry needs to improve its infrastructure, with the least sustainable products coming from beginner markets which is no doubt where the bulk of custom derives from.
As a rule of thumb, if a device is refillable and uses a removable battery, the chances are it can be recycled in some way or another. Just to reiterate, before recycling it is essential to clean your hardware, in particular tanks and coils which come into direct contact with e-liquid. For more information on this check out our handy guide and video on how to correctly clean your vape tank.
There are also certain knacks to extend your eco-friendliness. One of the biggest causes of climate change is the overuse of fuel worldwide with around 54 million litres of fuel being burned away each day across the planet. One way to reduce this is to buy your e-liquids locally in the UK, decreasing the air mileage and transportation as opposed to US or European produced e-liquids.
Reusing or donating vape equipment can also be hugely beneficial
Reduce sugar in your e-liquid
Switch to a higher nicotine strength
We hope this has helped and guided you into becoming an eco-friendly vaper. Now we’ve supplied you with the facts and tips, it’s up to you to dispose of your vape equipment correctly. If you require more information on recycling or are confused as to whether a particular product can be recycled, please don’t hesitate to contact us regarding any issues.
