The Difference Between 510 Carts and AIO Disposable Vapes
Vaping has become a popular way to consume cannabis, offering a convenient and portable option for consumers. AIO disposable vapes and 510 cartridges are both widely used, but the differences between the two extend beyond the vaping experience.
In the cannabis industry, these products have become part of a growing waste stream that must be properly managed, as vape products cannot simply be tossed in standard trash or recycling receptacles.
Here’s a closer look at AIO disposable vapes and 510 cartridges, followed by how people in Missouri can properly dispose of them.
What Is an AIO Vape?
An all-in-one (AIO) disposable vape is a portable device pre-loaded with distillate, live resin, or rosin. It uses a simple design in which a built-in lithium-ion battery heats a coil that vaporizes the cannabis oil. The battery typically activates when you inhale.
These are single-use products, whether they are rechargeable or not. Either way, the battery is sealed inside, so the whole device gets thrown out when it's finished. They’re especially popular for their simplicity, portability, and low-maintenance appeal.
Every vape that goes in the trash is a battery in the trash. Batteries get punctured, heated, or crushed. Broken batteries sitting in a pile of garbage start fires, and it happens every day.
What Is a 510 Thread Cartridge?
A 510 cartridge holds the cannabis distillate, live resin, or rosin, and screws onto a battery using 510 threading, a universal size that fits nearly any brand. The 510 battery powers the vape cartridge by sending electricity to the coil, which heats the cannabis oil inside and turns it into vapor. Depending on the device, you can activate the rechargeable battery by pressing a button or simply inhaling.
Some batteries will let you adjust the voltage or wattage to control the heat level, which affects flavor, vapor density, and throat hit. Their draw is the greater control they offer over the vaping experience.
When the oil runs out, you throw away the cartridge and keep the battery for the next one. Buy it once, refill from there, and you keep the one part that can start a fire out of the waste stream entirely.
How to Dispose of Disposable Vapes
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) makes it clear that lithium-ion batteries and devices containing these batteries should not go in household garbage or recycling bins. Batteries can become damaged or crushed during transport or by processing and sorting equipment, creating a fire hazard. They should go to electronics recyclers or household hazardous waste collection points instead.
Monarch Weighs In on AIO Vape Disposal
In a July 2026 podcast episode with Greenway Magazine, Monarch Waste Co. Founders Zach McCullough and Annie Macheca talked about the complexity of disposing AIO vapes.
“The complexity can’t be understated,” said Zach McCullough, Co-Founder and CEO. “We’re talking about a lithium battery which, if mishandled, technically becomes hazardous by definition and has to be handled as hazardous waste, mixed with a controlled substance.”
The volume of discarded devices creates another challenge. Annie Macheca, Co-Founder and COO, said, “The vape pen waste stream was not an issue 10 or 15 years ago. And so, I think for operators and waste companies, everyone’s kind of scrambling to figure out what to do with these hundreds of lithium-ion batteries that are difficult to recover.”
As such, Monarch works closely with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MODNR) to ensure the batteries are properly handled in accordance with the EPA’s sustainability guidelines and to guarantee safe operations.
The Disposable Vape Pen Takeback Program
Through the Disposable Vape Pen Takeback Program, Monarch provides customers with a responsible place to drop off their used AIO vapes.
Monarch installs collection kiosks at participating retailers, efficiently removes lithium-ion batteries from disposable vapes, and responsibly recycles the batteries with local R2-certified recyclers. This recovers more than 90% of materials, keeping them out of landfills. Scheduling pickups, waste processing, and documentation are all handled by Monarch, allowing dispensaries to stay focused on daily operations while remaining fully compliant.
Take the Guesswork Out of Cannabis Vape Disposal
AIO vape pens make it easy to enjoy cannabis wherever the day takes you. When the last hit is finished, Monarch Waste Co. makes it just as easy to know what comes next.
Through the Disposable Vape Pen Takeback Program, consumers across Missouri have access to convenient kiosks where they can responsibly drop off their used AIO vapes. Find a participating dispensary near you and leave the rest to us.