TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW)—A Topeka store owner and Shawnee County Solid Waste have partnered to educate the public on the dangers of improper vape pen disposal and provide a tangible solution.

Lithium-ion batteries, found in virtually every vape, store a lot of energy in a small space, making them extremely dangerous when mishandled.

It’s not just vape pens–cellphones, laptops, power banks, and countless other popular items contain lithium-ion batteries.

When the devices are crushed in a garbage truck, they can cause a fire or an explosion.

Instead of trashing old or dead vape products, you are encouraged to take them to the vape pen disposal boxes at the CBD America Shaman stores, located at 29th and Croco and 29th and Wanamaker, run by Eric and Linsey Kueser.

When Kueser saw a Facebook post from the Shawnee County Solid Waste Department warning the public about the dangers, he reached out to them with a proposal.

” I will happily collect all the used vapes and bring them to you,” Kueser explained. “Or you can come pick them up, just to help keep the trash guys safe and keep the trucks off fire.”

The Kueser’s CBD America Shaman locations are accepting any and all vape products–no questions asked.

“These need to absolutely be properly disposed of,” Kueser said. “Whether you got it from me, got it from another store, got it in Missouri. I don’t care what the substance is that is in it, just properly dispose of your vapes and keep everybody safe.”

Lithium-ion battery products can also be taken to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 131 NE 46th St.

Vape shop owners can reach out to Shawnee County Solid Waste to become a disposal location.

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