VapeCycle is the first New Zealand vape recycling programme.
OUR VAPE RECYCLING PROGRESS
AS OF 2026
1,184,982
units collected for recycling
1,184,982 units collected for recycling
18,968kg
of waste collected for recycling
18,968kg of waste collected for recycling
1,315
collectors participating
1,315 collectors participating
TIME TO STOP DUMPING
AND START RECYCLING!
Established in 2019 by VAPO and alt., VapeCycle, powered by TerraCycle®, is one of the world’s first programmes of its kind. VapeCycle ensures that all VAPO, Flux, Bud, alt. and solo products (including e-liquid bottles, vape devices and vape pods) can be recycled.
It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3:
1. Choose a vape that’s unlike any other. It can be recycled!
2. Save your used devices or pods and either send them directly to VapeCycle for free or drop them into any VAPO store around the country.
3. The next time you see your vape, it’ll be something else! VapeCycle recycles every vape part.
We’ve partnered with TerraCycle, a global leader in recycling solutions.
The plastics from vape products are shredded and turned into raw formats that can be remoulded to make new recycled products. At the same time, the metals and batteries are separated and recovered.
WHAT CAN I RECYCLE?
WHAT CAN I RECYCLE?
Used vape pods, vape devices and e-liquid bottles.
HOW TO RECYCLE?
MAIL IN
We’ve made it convenient for customers to
participate by downloading a free shipping label from the TerraCycle website to mail used products directly to TerraCycle for FREE!
DROP OFF
Drop your used pods, devices and e-liquid
bottles off at any of VAPO’s 30+ vape shops
across New Zealand, and we’ll give you
loyalty stamps for your efforts.
SAVE THE BEACHES,
SAVE THE EARTH
VAPO and alt.’s products are designed as a harm reduction tool to limit the damage smoking does to people. Our recycling programme, VapeCycle, has been designed as a harm reduction system to limit the damage we inflict on our planet.
Every year 4.7 TRILLION cigarette filters end up in the ocean. We’re ensuring vape products don’t do the same!
With an enthusiastic customer base already contributing to over 1,184,000 units collected for recycling, more than 18,000kgs of waste collected for recycling, and 1300+ engaged people, VapeCycle is on a roll!
Something old becomes something new.
The next time you see your vape, you won’t recognise it!
While the items above aren’t actually made from vapes, once enough vape parts have been collected, our partners at TerraCycle will recycle them to be used in things such as plastic shipping pallets, outdoor furniture, decking, watering cans, storage containers, bins, playground flooring, and more.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Drop off your used vape devices, pods, or e-liquid bottles into a VapeCycle bin at any VAPO vape shop around NZ. Alternatively, mail them to VapeCycle for free.
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No, VapeCycle recycles your vapes for free. We’ll even cover postage for you!
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All VEX, HAIZ, Bud, solo, alt. and VAPO-branded products (including e-liquid bottles, vape devices and vape pods) can be recycled.
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This programme has strict shipping guidelines due to the transportation of batteries. Please read through this checklist before shipping your waste:
Maximum of four (4) e-cigarettes per parcel - this is a postal safety requirement for transporting devices with batteries. However, you can send as many pods as you like!
Ensure batteries are discharged - ensure your e-cigarettes have no charge left in them.
Do not disassemble - Keep batteries inside e-cigarettes.
Pack your waste in a cardboard box - Do not use a bag or satchel.
Remove all liquids - Ensure pods and bottles are empty.
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Yes! You can bring them to any VAPO vape shop. Find a location near you.
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You can become a public drop-off point for VapeCycle! Set up boxes that community members can fill with their vapes to be recycled, and send full boxes to VapeCycle/TerraCycle at no cost to you. Find out more here.
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The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that roughly 4.5 trillion cigarette filters pollute our environment yearly, including waterways like oceans and rivers and beaches. We want to ensure vaping products don’t inflict the same harm to our planet that cigarettes do. By responsibly disposing of your e-cigarette and vaping products through VapeCycle, we can ensure a more sustainable future free from e-waste.
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The collected vape and e-cigarette waste is sent to VapeCycle partner TerraCycle, which will work with third-party processors to sort, clean and process the different components into usable raw materials suitable for use as an alternative to virgin materials in the manufacturing of new products.
When required, the waste will be separated into different materials using a mix of sorting technologies. Plastics are size-reduced and undergo a melting process through which they become a usable raw materials for new product manufacturing. If necessary, the material is blended with other plastics or additives to improve and stabilise its properties.
Metals such as aluminium and stainless steel are shredded, baled, and sent for smelting. E-waste, including batteries, will be sent to a specialised e-waste recycler for processing.