Residents encouraged to recycle disposable vapes following sales ban
Residents are being encouraged to recycle their used disposable vapes following new legislation.
The ban on disposable vapes came into effect on Sunday (1 June) and prohibits the sale and supply of single use vapes. Under the new environmental legislation, any vapes legally on sale must be reusable, meaning that they can be recharged and refilled.
However, the new ban is not on all vapes. A wide range of vaping products, including reusable and refillable versions of popular vapes, will continue to be legally available, so switching from smoking to vaping can still reduce health risks and save you money within weeks.
People with used disposable vapes are now being encouraged to find a local battery recycling collection point to make sure they are disposed of safely.
Why do I need to recycle vapes?
Batteries and electrical items containing batteries, including disposable vapes, pose a significant fire risk when placed in general waste or mixed recycling. If damaged, crushed or punctured, which happens easily, batteries can ignite fires that spread rapidly, putting lives, vehicles, and infrastructure at risk.
You can recycle your used disposable vapes at one of our household waste and recycling centres. Alternatively, you can recycle your used vapes at the shops you bought it from.
Councillor John McElroy, Cabinet member for Environment and Transport at Gateshead Council, said: "The new legislation will reduce the production of plastics that are harmful to the environment and the potential of them causing battery fires, which put significant risk on the safety of our communities.
"We'd encourage everyone who has used disposable vapes to make sure they're recycled safely where you bought them or one of our recycling centres."
Household waste and recycling centres
Vaping to quit smoking
Tobacco is our biggest killer, the single largest cause of health inequality between rich and poor and costs the North East £1.99 billion a year in health, social care and costs to the economy.
NHS advice is clear - nicotine vaping is less harmful than smoking as well as one of the most effective tools for quitting lethal tobacco smoking. While vaping is not completely risk free and children and non-smokers should never vape, adults who used disposable vapes are encouraged to make the switch to reusable and refillable versions.
For more information on vaping to quit smoking, as well as local support, visit Vaping Advice - Fresh North East (opens new window).
If you are aware of any shops or businesses that are continuing to sell disposable vapes beyond the 1 June 2025, please inform our Trading Standards team by emailing tradingstandards@gateshead.gov.uk or calling 0191 433 3000.
For more information and guidance for businesses, visit our single use vapes webpage.
Residents are being encouraged to recycle their used disposable vapes following new legislation.
The ban on disposable vapes came into effect on Sunday (1 June) and prohibits the sale and supply of single use vapes. Under the new environmental legislation, any vapes legally on sale must be reusable, meaning that they can be recharged and refilled.
However, the new ban is not on all vapes. A wide range of vaping products, including reusable and refillable versions of popular vapes, will continue to be legally available, so switching from smoking to vaping can still reduce health risks and save you money within weeks.
People with used disposable vapes are now being encouraged to find a local battery recycling collection point to make sure they are disposed of safely.
Why do I need to recycle vapes?
Batteries and electrical items containing batteries, including disposable vapes, pose a significant fire risk when placed in general waste or mixed recycling. If damaged, crushed or punctured, which happens easily, batteries can ignite fires that spread rapidly, putting lives, vehicles, and infrastructure at risk.
You can recycle your used disposable vapes at one of our household waste and recycling centres. Alternatively, you can recycle your used vapes at the shops you bought it from.
Councillor John McElroy, Cabinet member for Environment and Transport at Gateshead Council, said: "The new legislation will reduce the production of plastics that are harmful to the environment and the potential of them causing battery fires, which put significant risk on the safety of our communities.
"We'd encourage everyone who has used disposable vapes to make sure they're recycled safely where you bought them or one of our recycling centres."
Household waste and recycling centres
Vaping to quit smoking
Tobacco is our biggest killer, the single largest cause of health inequality between rich and poor and costs the North East £1.99 billion a year in health, social care and costs to the economy.
NHS advice is clear - nicotine vaping is less harmful than smoking as well as one of the most effective tools for quitting lethal tobacco smoking. While vaping is not completely risk free and children and non-smokers should never vape, adults who used disposable vapes are encouraged to make the switch to reusable and refillable versions.
For more information on vaping to quit smoking, as well as local support, visit Vaping Advice - Fresh North East (opens new window).
If you are aware of any shops or businesses that are continuing to sell disposable vapes beyond the 1 June 2025, please inform our Trading Standards team by emailing tradingstandards@gateshead.gov.uk or calling 0191 433 3000.
For more information and guidance for businesses, visit our single use vapes webpage.
