Battery & Vape Recycling

How to Recycle E-Liquid (and battery powered Vapes)

From day one, we’ve set out to make Zombie Vapes a sustainable retailer with the biggest and best range around. Cigarette butts are among the world’s most littered items, and we’re determined that vapes won’t follow suit. That’s why we run a free recycling scheme for all customers—here’s how it works.

Batteries and electrical items can’t go in household recycling—and they definitely don’t belong on the pavement. If you’ve bought kits, mods or batteries from us, bring them back and we’ll make sure they’re recycled safely and correctly.

Impact Of Electrical Waste

Electrical items can harm the environment if they’re not disposed of properly. Many contain contaminants—such as lead, cadmium and mercury—including vape devices. If these materials are mismanaged, they can leach into soil and groundwater, harming ecosystems and wildlife.

There’s also the needless loss of valuable resources. Laptops, tablets and vape devices contain recoverable metals like copper, gold and lithium. Recycling them preserves these materials, cuts down on energy-intensive mining, and reduces overall environmental impact.

Why can’t vape kits go out with household recycling or rubbish?

Vapes are classed as electrical waste, so they shouldn’t be thrown away with normal rubbish or kerbside recycling. If landfilled, the nicotine, electronics and built-in battery in a typical vape can pose environmental risks.

Household recycling facilities aren’t designed to process electrical components, and devices that still contain batteries can overheat, combust or even explode if handled incorrectly.

Always separate vape waste. Look for the crossed-out wheelie bin symbol—it means the item isn’t suitable for regular recycling and needs specialist disposal.

Recycling & The Zombie Vapes Takeback Scheme

There are two easy ways to make sure your old vapes are treated and recycled properly.

1) Use our free takeback scheme.
If you’ve purchased vapes, kits, mods or batteries from us, we’ll take them back and recycle them for free. You can drop them at our HQ (Vape Lyfe Ltd, 11 Middlewich Road, Sandbach, Cheshire, CW11 1DH) or send them by courier if you’re not local. When posting, include a short note: “Please recycle these products.”

Please check your courier’s policy first—some won’t accept used batteries.

As a responsible retailer, we follow the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Regulations and work with approved, authorised treatment facilities (AATFs) to ensure vape products and components are recovered, reused and recycled correctly.

2) Use local collection points.
If you can’t get them back to us, many large supermarkets and high-street shops provide battery/vape collection bins you can use while you’re out shopping.

How To Recycle Vape Kits

Most vape kits contain metal, plastic and glass—all recyclable when handled correctly. If you’re taking your kit to a recycling point or sending it to us for takeback, follow these steps:

  1. Switch Off
    If your device has a power button, turn it off first—it makes disassembly safer. (You can skip this if you use an inhale-activated/buttonless disposable.)

  2. Disassemble
    Separate the parts: remove the pod or unscrew the tank from the device/body. Keep components grouped so they’re easy to sort.

  3. Remove Coils & Batteries
    Take out any removable coils and removable batteries. These must be recycled separately from the main device.

  4. Prep the Battery
    If you’ve removed a battery, cover both the positive (+) and negative (–) terminals with tape. This helps prevent short circuits if the battery touches metal or other batteries and reduces fire risk.

Safety tips: Don’t crush, puncture or expose batteries to heat. If a battery is swollen, leaking or damaged, place it in a non-conductive container (e.g., a plastic bag) and take it directly to a battery recycling point.

Need a hand? You can return eligible items through the Zombie Vapes takeback scheme, or use local battery/vape collection points at supermarkets and high-street stores.

How To Recycle E-Liquid

Good news: every e-liquid bottle we stock is recyclable—and prep is quick.

Step-by-step

  1. Empty the bottle – use up any remaining e-liquid.

  2. Rinse thoroughly – swish with warm water (cap off) until there’s no smell or residue.

  3. Dry & recap – let the bottle air-dry; pop the cap back on.

  4. Recycle – add to your household plastics recycling (check local rules) or take to your local waste & recycling centre.

  5. Or send them to us – you can include empty bottles with items you return via our takeback scheme and we’ll recycle them for you.

Tip: If your council asks for it, remove labels before recycling.

What About Disposable Vapes?

Disposables are a bit trickier, but some brands (like Slix and Roar) include removable batteries. If the battery can be removed without forcing or damaging the device, take it out and recycle the battery separately—then recycle the remaining device as electrical waste. Please note that from the 1st of June 2025, disposable vapes will become illegal in the UK.

For most other disposables, follow this guidance:

  • Don’t litter disposable vapes—ever.

  • Don’t try to disassemble a sealed disposable yourself.

  • Do place disposables in a battery/electrical recycling bin (many supermarkets and recycling centres provide these).

  • Or use our Zombie Vapes takeback scheme and we’ll handle compliant recycling for you.

Greener Alternatives to Disposables

If you’re ready to cut waste (and costs), consider:

  • Prefilled pod kits – as easy to use as disposables, but rechargeable.

  • Refillable pod kits & vape pens – lowest ongoing waste; just replace coils and recycle empty e-liquid bottles.