Year-on-year, there has been an increased health related concerns around vaping. In fact, globally, 60% of the top ten vape related searches have been health related, rising by 21% from the previous year.
Commercial waste collection experts, Direct365 have analysed the most frequent search queries related to vaping to uncover the public’s key concerns and areas where knowledge may be lacking.
60% of the top 10 search terms relating to vaping revolve around health queries. While searches are dominated by people seeking information on how to quit vaping, gaining 48,000 searches on Google each month globally, this is followed by queries around ‘is vaping worse than smoking’ which is searched for 13,000 times a month globally.
In third position both in the UK and globally are searches for ‘how many calories are in a vape’. Each month almost 8,000 people make this search with 29% of searches coming from the UK. An additional 5,400 searches are made each month for ‘does vaping have calories’ and 5,300 search for ‘does vaping make you lose weight’, indicating that people are prioritising their calorie intake and body image over more serious health conditions that vaping could cause.
The search query that saw the largest rise year-on-year is ‘Is snus better than vaping’. The query saw a 44% rise in searches in the past year, with 68% of the 1,900 searches each month coming from the UK. While the alternative may be more environmentally friendly, it does come with its own unhealthy side effects such as gum disease, oral cancer and tooth loss.
Globally, just 400 searches per month address vape disposal
At a global level, only 400 Google searches are made for ‘vape disposal near me’ each month, with 38% of these searches coming from the UK.
While the UK Government is set to ban the sale of single-use vapes by 1st June 2025 in an effort to tackle the growing waste problem, it’s equally important to ensure that rechargeable and refillable vapes are disposed of responsibly.
Commercial waste experts at Direct365 have provided 3 top tips for people unsure of how to dispose of their vapes:
- Check local regulations: Depending on your council, you may be able to dispose of your vape at your local recycling centre or within your local supermarket.
- Remove e-liquid residue: If you own a reusable vape, make sure to remove any remaining liquid from the vape and dispose of this in your general waste bin.
- Drop your vape off at a designated vape collection point: You should find vape collection points in all retailers that sell vapes. Ask a member of staff if you cannot see a designated bin in the store.
Karl Bantleman at Direct365 said, “Vaping has seen a dramatic rise in popularity over the past decade, with nearly 10% of the adult population now regularly using vapes. As vaping is poised to surpass smoking within the next year, and with no clear alternatives currently available to help individuals transition away from it, it’s crucial to consider not just the health implications, but also the growing environmental impact.
“In response to the mounting waste problem, the government will ban the sale of single-use vapes starting 1st June 2025. However, public awareness is equally important—especially when it comes to the proper disposal of rechargeable and refillable devices. Since retailers are legally required to provide collection points for used vapes, customers should be encouraged to return old devices to the store where they were purchased or responsibly dispose of them in a vape disposal bin when buying a new one.”
