If you live in Marquette County, you can drop off your used, empty nicotine vapes at any of the following locations:
Marquette: Kenny’s Corner Store, 246 W Hewitt Ave., Marquette, MI 49855
Marquette: Circle K, 2000 US-41, Marquette, MI 49855
Harvey: Circle K, 5095 US-41, Marquette, MI 49855
Negaunee: Circle K, 370 US-41, Negaunee, MI 49866
Ishpeming: Circle K, 616 Palms Ave (US-41), Ishpeming, MI 49849
Over the last four years, disposable vaping devices have become extremely commonplace in Michigan. These devices contain a lithium battery as well as concentrated liquid nicotine, both of which are an environmental hazard.
Disposable vapes contain a hard plastic outer component and mouthpiece, a lithium-ion battery, and a nicotine cartridge. Both the battery and the cartridge are considered hazardous waste – nicotine and lithium are toxic to wildlife and poison water sources when littered, and lithium batteries cause fires in landfills and elsewhere. They are not meant to be recycled curbside or thrown away in the trash for these reasons, and they’re especially harmful when littered. Additionally, the lithium and other minerals contained in the batteries, though fully recyclable, is lost when these devices are improperly disposed of.
Citizens for Superior is partnering with Recycle 906 to host a public drop-off bucket for these vape devices at convenience stores across Marquette County.
Since the initiative began in December 2024, over 4,000 vapes have been collected, diverting them from our landfills and waterways.
We've staged drop-off buckets at convenience stores throughout Marquette County so you can discreetly drop off your used vapes. Please only insert empty disposable nicotine vapes (no THC vapes, please). It’s that easy!
We pick up the collected vapes regularly, host volunteer events to place clear tape over the ends to minimise any fire risk, and bring the vapes to Recycle 906 for proper disposal through their household hazardous waste program.
Volunteer "Tape the Vapes" events are held on a bi-monthly basis to sort and prepare the vapes for storage and transportation.
Finally, once we amass a bulk quantity of vape waste, we will send it to a certified recycler, who will disassemble the devices, dispose of the hazardous nicotine, and recycle the lithium battery. This is a costly and tedious process, as the vapes are small and difficult to pull apart. Currently, our downstream partner is Battery Recyclers of America, who handles the vapes we collect at their recycling center in California.
Previously, the only way to properly dispose of a vape device in Marquette was to bring the device to a Recycle 906 Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Day, which is held once a month or by appointment. This has resulted in the vast majority of vapes thrown in our landfills, waterways, and desk drawers, destined to cause fires, poison aquatic life, and prevent the reuse of lithium.
We look forward to diverting the hazardous waste contained in disposable vapes from our landfill and waterways, and recapturing the minerals contained in the batteries to reduce mining pressures for these infinitely recyclable materials.
