The importance of recycling vapes and e-cigarettes has been highlighted in a recent report, revealing that they accounted for one-third of all electrical devices sold in Ireland in 2024.

According to the report by Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Ireland (WEEE Ireland), approximately 1.1 million vapes were recycled last year, while a staggering 31 million were sold nationwide.

CEO of WEEE Ireland, Leo Donovan, emphasized the need for recycling during an interview on RTÉ's Morning Ireland. He urged the public, especially young individuals, to return their vapes to designated battery recycling boxes or the original retailer.

Donovan stressed the importance of not disposing of vapes in regular refuse bins, noting that they can be returned for free and are accepted in WEEE Ireland's blue battery boxes. When vapes are recycled, they are disassembled, and their batteries and electrical components are separated for proper disposal.

Donovan also encouraged individuals to consider repairing or reusing their vapes before recycling them at authorized points, such as electrical retailers and local authority sites.

The report revealed that a total of 93 million household electronic items were purchased in 2024, nearly three times higher than the figure recorded in 2006. Additionally, the percentage of households storing unused devices increased from 22% in 2023 to 29% in 2024.

WEEE Ireland reported collecting 16.2 million small appliances, 1.9 million lighting products, and 72 million AA batteries last year, underscoring the importance of responsible electronic waste management.