Vapes
It is important to never dispose of vapes in kerbside or public place (street litter) bins.
Vapes contain lithium-ion batteries that can easily catch fire if crushed or punctured. This can cause fires inside our waste collection vehicles and at landfill or recycling facilities, putting both staff and the community at risk.
Even the batteries inside empty vapes are likely to have a high level of charge remaining.
Free vape recycling at Summerhill
Hunter residents can recycle up to 10 vapes per visit, free of charge*, at Summerhill Waste Management Centre.
- Upon arrival at the weighbridge, please notify our team that you are disposing of vapes. They may ask to look at them.
- For safety reasons, please transport vapes inside a bag or bucket, and keep them out of the sun.
To dispose of higher quantities of vapes, please contact us to discuss available options.
Safety advice
- Do not attempt to dismantle vapes yourself. If a non-reusable vape is dismantled without the required technology, it can cause the battery to spark and catch on fire.
- When storing reusable vapes prior to disposal, first remove the batteries, tape the terminals and recycle at a local battery recycling point. Batteries can also be dropped off with vapes at Summerhill Waste Management Centre.
- If you are unsure if your vaping device is single-use or reusable, please consult a professional. If in doubt, do not attempt removing the battery.
- Vapes may contain nicotine, regardless of their labelling. Nicotine is either a Prescription-Only Medicine, or a Dangerous Poison. Personally dismantling vapes could result in nicotine poisoning.
*Standard fees and charges will apply for Hunter residents disposing of other types of waste, with the exception of items accepted free of charge at the Summerhill Community Recycling Centre.
