Vapes – More than electronic waste

Sales of e-cigarettes (vapes) have increased significantly in Switzerland over the last few years. On average, 10 million vapes are imported into Switzerland each year. Most of them end up in landfill with general waste instead of being recycled, even though e-cigarettes are electrical appliances that must be disposed of properly. This is because e-cigarettes contain a large number of recyclable materials that should be put back into circulation. At the same time, however, they are also highly inflammable and contain heavy metals, which are harmful for the environment. In response to this trend, SENS eRecycling has worked with the leading importers and retailers to devise an industry solution for environmentally friendly disposal of e-cigarettes. Used vapes can be disposed of properly free of charge at all vape shops, collection points or by post with the vape recycling bag.

For consumers: convenient returns free of charge

Take your e-cigarettes back to the place where you can buy them or order the Vape Recycling Bag to your home.

Easy and convenient

At sales outlets: e-cigarettes are taken back free of charge wherever you can buy them, even if you don’t buy any new products.

Using the Vape Recycling Bag: Order the Vape Recycling Bag to your home free of charge. Fill the bag and leave it in a visible place in your letterbox. Swiss Post will take it away and recycle it for you.

At collection points: Empty vapes can also be disposed of free of charge at all SENS collection points.

Efficient

10 million e-cigarettes are imported into Switzerland on average every year - we want to recycle at least 50% of them together with our partners.

Important

Every e-cigarette contains lithium, nickel, aluminum or copper. These recyclable materials are valuable and belong back in the cycle. With every correctly disposed of vape, we protect our environment and prevent fires from being started or our soil and water from being polluted by improper disposal.

Free of charge

Recycling is funded through an advance recycling contribution (ARC), which our partners levy on the sale price of the e-cigarettes. This means that the return options are free of charge because the cost of recycling is already included in the purchase price of the vape.

For sales outlets, institutions or event organizers: Order collection and awareness-raising material

Acting in conjunction with various partners, SENS eRecycling has devised an industry solution for the environmentally friendly disposal of e-cigarettes.

Together with the support of sales outlets, educational institutions, catering establishments, event organisers and other interested parties, we are setting an example and ensuring that consumers are made aware of how to dispose of vapes correctly. In this way, we reduce fires that can ignite due to improper disposal and minimise pollution of our environment.

What I can do as a sales outlet

As a seller of e-cigarettes, your point of sale can easily support the industry solution by becoming a vape recycler. Order our vape collection box and our Vape Recycling Bags, allowing your customers to conveniently return their empty vapes. When selling e-cigarettes, actively point out the return option so that your customers can make direct use of the environmentally friendly disposal methods.

What institutions and event organizers can do

Institutions such as educational facilities, catering establishments or event organisers can also order our vape collection box and Vape Recycling Bags as well as other information material free of charge. This material helps them prevent vapes from ending up in rubbish bins and helps raise awareness about recycling and sustainable disposal.

Use the Vape Recycling Bag to conveniently send collected e-cigarettes for recycling by letterbox.

The industry solution for the environmentally friendly disposal of e-cigarettes

With the industry solution for e-cigarettes, which has been operational since 1 July 2023, SENS eRecycling is now offering manufacturers and importers a standardised process for the collection, transportation and environmentally friendly disposal of e-cigarettes. The costs are covered by an advance recycling contribution (ARC), which is levied by the manufacturer or importer as a fixed amount on the sale price. Currently, 75 per cent of distributors of e-cigarettes are affiliated with SENS.

Not yet a partner?

All manufacturers, importers and retailers of e-cigarettes that have not yet adhered to the industry solution have the opportunity to do so.