Call2Recycle Broadens Quebec Vape Program to Include Cannabis Devices

Call2Recycle Canada, a battery collection and recycling organization, is widening its provincial takeback network for vape devices in Quebec to include cannabis products, a step the organization says addresses an “urgent environmental issue”, based on information released by the group. Quebec is now the first province in Canada to establish a formal recovery system for cannabis vape products.

The original vape program launched on January 1, 2025. Call2Recycle says the expansion responds to the rise of battery-driven devices and changing cannabis consumption patterns, both of which create challenges for safe end-of-life management. Data from Recyc-Québec show an uptick in discarded battery-powered items in recent years, while analysts note that disposable cannabis vapes increasingly contribute to mixed-material waste streams that traditional municipal systems struggle to process.

Under the expansion, Call2Recycle is partnering with producers, retailers, municipal operators and government agencies to install additional collection units across Quebec. The containers are built to manage fire risk and keep battery components isolated before transport. Once collected, the devices are sent to certified processors that recover metals, plastics and other materials. Observers note that the approach mirrors Call2Recycle’s long-running battery stewardship program, which has diverted millions of kilograms of batteries from disposal since the 1990s.

“As the market evolves, recycling solutions must keep pace, and Call2Recycle continues to support the transition to responsible recycling practices,” Call2Recycle Canada President and CEO Joe Zenobio says. “Whether it’s household batteries or those embedded in emerging products, our mission remains the same: to provide safe, convenient and proven solutions for responsible collection and recycling.

“With nearly 30 years of leadership in battery management, Call2Recycle is proud to contribute to Quebec’s waste reduction goals through an innovative program designed to keep up with a constantly changing market.”

The rollout was developed with input from several provincial ministries, including Environment and Climate Change, Health and Social Services, and Wildlife and Parks. Industry groups say the wider network gives Quebec a clearer pathway for handling hard-to-recycle vape products and may help reduce shutdowns at material recovery facilities caused by damaged cells. 

Call2Recycle plans to add more collection points as additional market participants join the system. Analysts expect other provinces to watch Quebec’s results closely while evaluating their own options for managing small battery-powered devices.

Source: Call2Recycle

SUNSHINE Spotlight: Quebec’s move folds cannabis vapes into a formal recovery system, tightening controls on a fast-growing battery waste stream.