How Different Vapes Are Broken Down
Disposable cannabis vapes may be small, but what happens to them at the end of their life can be surprisingly complicated. The way each device is built determines how easily it can be broken down and properly processed.
Some manufacturers have made design choices that simplify the process. Others have created sleek, sealed devices that require considerably more work to take apart. Looking at three different types of vape hardware shows just how much of a difference the design can make.
Two Waste Streams in One Vape
Many all-in-one (AIO) cannabis vapes have to be taken apart by hand. Each device contains two regulated waste streams: cannabis residue and a lithium-ion battery.
Neither belongs in the trash, and standard waste handlers are not equipped to manage this combination. Before the components can move through their respective waste streams, the device must first be disassembled.
With three different types of hardware, there are three very different amounts of work.
The Battery Has to Come Out
Lithium-ion batteries cannot be shredded, so they must be removed before the cannabis waste can be rendered unusable. The remaining cannabis residue carries its own disposal requirements under Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation (DCR) rules.
As a result, proper processing depends on separating the two components first. 510 carts and AIO vapes contain these materials, but the devices themselves are constructed differently.
The Orange Pen: Designed With Disposal in Mind
Of the three vape pens, the orange pen is the easiest to break down. Using basic hand tools, Monarch Waste Co. can open the device and remove the lithium-ion battery intact without any cutting. The battery comes out clean, which means it can go directly to an R2-certified recycler in good condition.
The Other Two Pens: Sealed by Design
The other two vape pens present more of a challenge. Their housings are sealed with adhesive and have no access point, meaning their designs do not account for disposal.
For these pens, Monarch Waste Co. can pull the battery out along the seam. Not all sealed vapes have a seam, however, making the battery even more difficult to access. Removing it then requires more time per unit and trained hands. Monarch gets the batteries out either way.
How Vape Design Can Simplify Disposal
Sleek, sealed, single-piece housings have consumer appeal. They photograph well on a shelf and easily fit in a pocket, but those same features can make a vape more difficult to take apart for disposal. The orange pen shows that a battery can be easier to remove without sacrificing how the product looks or functions.
Dispose of Cannabis Vapes the Right Way
Cannabis vapes create a unique waste challenge, but Monarch Waste Co. has built a process to handle it. Every pickup is documented, with rendered cannabis waste logged in a waste manifest and every lithium-ion battery counted and tracked. To date, we’ve recovered more than 176,000 lithium-ion batteries, and we partner with over 30 dispensary locations through our Disposable Vape Pen Takeback Program.
Our team has the expertise to handle the two regulated waste streams within each vape without cutting corners on either. Contact us today to see how we can support your facility.