The public is being urged to properly recycle disposable vapes and e-cigarettes as new figures reveal they accounted for one-third of all electrical items sold in Ireland last year.
According to Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Ireland, approximately 31 million vapes were sold in 2024, yet only 1.1 million were recycled. The figures have raised concerns about growing electronic waste and its environmental impact, particularly as vape use rises among younger demographics.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, WEEE Ireland CEO Leo Donovan called for increased public responsibility in returning used vapes to proper collection points. “We would really encourage, particularly the young people, to look at bringing those back to our battery recycling boxes or back to the original retailer that they bought the vape from,” he said.
Mr Donovan reminded the public that vapes should never be thrown into regular refuse bins, and that returning them for recycling is both free and easy. Used devices are accepted in WEEE Ireland’s blue battery boxes located at retail stores and designated collection centres across the country.
Once collected, vapes are disassembled, with batteries and electronic components separated and processed for recycling. “Ask yourself — can it be repaired, can it be reused? And if not, send it to one of the authorised recycling points,” Donovan added.
The organisation’s annual report revealed that Irish households purchased around 93 million electronic devices in 2024 — nearly triple the figure recorded in 2006. Despite the growth in electronic consumption, WEEE Ireland is concerned about rising hoarding behaviour, with 29% of households now holding on to unused devices, up from 22% the year before.
Beyond vapes, WEEE Ireland collected 16.2 million small appliances, 1.9 million lighting products, and 72 million AA batteries during 2024 — all part of a growing effort to improve e-waste recovery and reduce environmental harm.
The message from WEEE Ireland is clear: as the popularity of disposable electronics like vapes continues to rise, recycling must keep pace to avoid a mounting environmental cost. The organisation is calling on both retailers and consumers to take a more active role in ensuring responsible disposal.
