Can you recycle a disposable vape in BC?

Not through a dedicated vape program yet. BC has changed the rules, though, and a province-wide system is on the way. Here's where things stand and what to do with a dead vape in the meantime.

What changed in BC

In November 2025, BC amended its Recycling Regulation and added "electronic cigarettes and vapes" to the battery-containing product category. That puts vapes under the same producer-paid model BC already uses for electronics and batteries. The companies that make and sell them are responsible for collecting and recycling them.

The regulation gives those companies time to set it up. They have until December 15, 2026 to file a recycling plan, and until October 1, 2027 to have that plan approved. Until a plan is approved and running, there's no province-wide vape drop-off in BC. Quebec already runs a vape take-back program through Call2Recycle, which gives a rough idea of what BC's could look like.

What to do with a dead vape right now

Keep it out of your garbage and your blue bin. Disposables have a lithium-ion battery sealed inside, and lithium batteries don't belong in curbside garbage or recycling. Our vape battery basics post covers storage and charging.

Look it up on Recyclepedia. The Recycling Council of BC runs Recyclepedia, a search tool for what you can recycle and where, across the province. Local depots set their own lists, so some may take battery-powered items that others turn away.

Call the Recycling Hotline. The Recycling Council of BC answers questions at 604-732-9253 in the Lower Mainland, or toll-free at 1-800-667-4321 anywhere in BC. Ask whether a depot near you takes vapes or battery-containing products. That's the fastest way to get a local answer.

Got a mod with removable batteries? Loose household batteries are already covered by BC's battery recycling program. Pull the batteries out, tape over the ends, and drop them at a Call2Recycle battery collection spot. Their site lists drop-offs near you, including many pharmacies, hardware stores and bottle depots.

Cutting down on waste

If tossing a disposable every few days bugs you, a refillable pod kit or mod means one rechargeable device and replaceable pods or coils instead of a new battery each time. Our pod vs disposable comparison walks through the trade-offs, and our coil guide explains how often parts need swapping.

Same rules as always

Everything we sell is for adults 19 and older, and we check government-issued photo ID at the counter for every purchase. Nicotine is capped at 20 mg/mL under Health Canada's vaping rules, and nicotine free products are 0 mg/mL.

We're walk-in only and open 24/7 at all five stores: Newton, Surrey Central, Delta, Denman and Abbotsford. Staff are happy to talk through refillable options if you want to cut back on disposables.