The proper disposal of e-cigarettes: Attitudes, knowledge, motivators and barriers

Why are few vapes disposed of properly?

Disposable e-cigarettes (vapes) have become increasingly popular in Switzerland. As electrical devices, they must be recycled properly. However, the current collection rate is low. SENS eRecycling therefore commissioned the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) to research the usage and disposal behaviour of vape users. 

Qualitative interviews with 18 to 34-year-olds

The study comprised two phases: desk research with a literature review (December 2025) and a qualitative interview study with 15 individual discussions in German and French-speaking Switzerland (January and February 2026). The target group for the interviews comprised 18 to 34-year-olds, who according to statistical data from the Federal Office of Public Health, are the heaviest vape users. When selecting interviewees, care was taken to ensure a diverse educational background, an equal distribution of men and women and a mixture of heavy and occasional users. 

Findings

Product characteristics

The study shows that vapes fundamentally differ from other electrical or electronic devices in several respects – and that it is precisely these characteristics that significantly shape recycling behaviour. Firstly, vapes are considered a recreational product: they are regarded as a simple treat. Anyone disposing of vapes must also address their usage – and thus the costs, health and possibly addiction. 

Secondly, vapes are a convenience product: they are widely available and are supposed to make everyday life easier. The respondents predominantly buy vapes spontaneously in physical stores and rarely online – an indication of the product’s impulsive nature. Any additional effort, including disposal, goes against this. 

Thirdly, vaping takes place on the go and is significantly more flexible in terms of time and location than conventional cigarettes: vapes can be used indoors and outdoors, at any time and in short, single puffs. This means that a vape could be finished anywhere, making flexible disposal options essential. 

Three disposer types

The study identifies three disposer types. ‘Ignorant disposers’ routinely dispose of vapes in the bin because they simply don’t regard them as electrical or electronic devices. In their mind, vapes are like cigarettes and they think they’re doing the right thing as long as they don’t simply throw them on the ground. 

‘Dissonant collectors’ basically know that disposing of them in the bin is wrong, but are unaware of specific disposal methods. They collect vapes at home, procrastinate and often end up throwing them in the household waste because there is no other solution. 

‘Committed disposers’ are a minority with sufficient knowledge and motivation: they are aware of and use existing disposal options, but also desire simpler solutions and validation for their actions.

Core barriers

Across all types, four central barriers emerge. The biggest is the knowledge gap: most users don’t spontaneously regard vapes as electrical or electronic devices and therefore cannot assign them to a known recycling category. The disposal options at retail outlets and SENS collection points are known, but are not associated with vapes. The respondents had never heard of the Vape Recycling Bag. 

Added to this is the moral burden: those dealing with recycling inevitably have a greater awareness of their own usage, which contradicts the positive experience of vaping and is therefore often ignored. 

After all, the effort of recycling is offset with the convenience of simply disposing of vapes in the bin: even ‘carrying around’ an empty vape is seen as an effort – although this same convenience is praised as a product advantage.

Some respondents also lack faith in the recycling system. They doubt whether collected vapes are actually recycled.

Recommendations

The study shows that a higher recycling rate is only achievable through simultaneous action on two levels: attitudes must be changed through targeted communication and the basic conditions (infrastructure) must be optimised so that the correct disposal method requires as little additional effort as possible. Both levels must go hand in hand – communication alone is not enough.