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How to dispose of e-cigarettes safely

Author: Anna Preston
by Anna Preston
Posted: Mar 16, 2016

E-cigarettes are soaring in popularity in the United Kingdom. An increasing number of people are turning to e-cigs to help them turn away from traditional smoking for good. Most find that it is much more effective than other nicotine replacement items, such as gum and patches. In fact, the UK is the second largest market for vaping products in the world. The only issue with e-cigarettes is that they represent another product that is contributing to the global e-waste problem. With that being said, read on to discover more about how to dispose of your electronic cigarettes in the correct manner.

The e-waste problem is a very real one, hence the creation of the WEEE Regulations and we all need to do something to combat it. You may think that something as small as an e-cigarette is not really going to make much of a difference. But, you would be surprised. From batteries to refrigerators, all electronic and electrical items are causing significant damage to the environment. This is because they are leaking harmful chemicals that not only damage the surroundings but also are causing severe risks to human health. This is especially the case in developing nations where people rummage through landfills to try and find goods that they can sell in order to make some money for their families.

What to do with your e-cigarette

This all highlights why it is pivotal to dispose of your e-cigarette correctly. But, how do you do so? The first option you have at your disposal is to take the electronic cigarette back to the store. There are a lot of specialist vaping shops around the UK that offer a take-back service. They will then recycle the components. You should be able to find information about this on the company’s website.

If this is not an option, you need to make sure you dispose of the e-cig correctly. Don’t simply throw the electronic cigarette in the bin. Instead, you will need to separate the compartments, as the parts will need disposing of in a different manner. Thus, separate the canister, if there is one, and the filter, and tip, which is the electronic part. The canister will go in the general rubbish bin, unless they are made from metal. If so, make sure you put this in the applicable recycling bin at a recycling centre. The filters will need to go in the general rubbish bin. The tip is the part that needs to be disposed of carefully, as this is the electronic part.

There are some local district and borough councils throughout the UK that offer a household small electrical items collection. If this is the case in your area, you can place the tip in this. If that is not the case, you will need to go to a recycling centre or use a professional e-waste company. This is a good opportunity to have a clear out in your home and see what other e-waste you have to dispose of so that you can do laptop disposal, smartphone disposal and other electrical disposals all in one go. This will save you a considerable amount of hassle and give you the peace of mind that everything has been handled correctly.

About the Author

The author has written and published articles on a wide range of topics including Small Business Advice, Tax and Accounting, Interior Design, House Renovation and Project Management.

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Author: Anna Preston
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Anna Preston

Member since: Apr 29, 2015
Published articles: 180

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