What Can Do You Do With Leftover Empty Vape Cartridges?

Vape pens have become one of the most popular ways to consume cannabis. They stand out for their ease of use, portability, and functionality. They are now considered one of the go-to concentrate choices for both cannabis newbies and enthusiasts.

If new to the Cannabis world or vaping, many of the products may seem similar initially, but there are slight traits that differentiate them. Understanding what makes them different can help you decide which product suits your vaping needs.

This article will guide you by exploring everything you need to know about vape carts and also how to go about dealing with empty vape cartridges.

How Do Vape Pens Work?

Vape cartridges work with vape pen batteries. The vape battery will power an atomizer in the cartridge that heats up the oil, activating the various chemical components. The vape smoke is inhaled and that in turn produces the effects of cannabis. Some vape batteries have multiple functions that enable temperature customization and dose management.

How Do Vape Cartridges Work?

A vape cartridge is a glass vial pre-filled with a gram or half a gram of cannabis concentrate. The oil contains combinations of terpenes and cannabinoids extracted from cannabis.

Each vape cartridge has a small heating element that’s powered by a battery, which then vaporizes the concentrate.

Some cartridges only work with specific brands like Pax Era Pods. However, most vape pens come with standard 510-thread, meaning they are compatible with most vape batteries but won’t work with certain proprietary brands.

Why Choose An Oil Vape Cartridge?

These are some of the benefits of using oil cartridges.

a) Ease of use

Vape cartridges require little to no effort. They basically make the vaping experience a lot easier as all you need to do is press a button and inhale.

b) Portability

Oil vape cartridges are the easiest method of enjoying cannabis on the go. Their minimalist and sleek design allow for discreet vaping, plus they don’t produce noticeable smoke or odor. The vape pen cartridges also free you from distracting traits common to larger setups.

c) Dosing

If new to cannabis, dosing can be a major concern. No one wants an overwhelming experience, let alone be caught on a bad trip while attempting to enjoy cannabis. Using a pre-loaded vape pen with oil cartridges allows for a highly controlled dose with each inhalation. This gives you more control over how much or little you consume.

d) Tailor Your Experience

With oil cartridges, if it’s refillable, you can custom make your type of vaping solution. Basically, you have control over the type of oil, THC concentration, strain, and any other factor that may be important to you.

Drawbacks of vapes?

While vaping solutions do come with plenty of benefits, there are a few drawbacks to other consumptions methods.

a) Physical effects

Compared to other cannabis products like edibles and joints, vape pen cartridges tend to provide a shorter-lasting high because they are consumed in smaller doses. However, though the effects last shorter, they hit harder if overconsumed, so ensure to monitor dosing appropriately.

b) Battery life

It can be quite a buzzkill to monitor your vape battery’s usage and power levels, as frequent usage can quickly drain them. Hence for enjoyable vaping, ensure to charge the battery each night before bed or have a backup on hand that’s fully charged.

Types of Vape Pens

When it comes to vape products, the more knowledgeable, you are the better. If you’re new to the cannabis vaping experience, it might seem a little tricky at first trying to navigate it all, but getting to know what’s what and being able to differentiate, can help you find the perfect what works for you.

Here’s some useful information to keep in mind while shopping for cartridges in our dispensary.

a) Disposables

Disposable vape pens ( like the ones from our dispensary) contain a pre-charged battery designed to support the device until the cartridge empties. Unfortunately, they can’t be removed or replaced.

These vape products can be used immediately in that they come ready to use and require no additional maintenance. In addition, they don’t have any threads and are not designed to be separated from their batteries.

Vape pen cartridges are ideal for those interested in trying the vaping experience and newcomers in general.

b) Cartridge/ Battery Combos

Most vape carts come with a standard 510 thread that the battery screws into. The exception is a loaded cartridge designed by a specific company to use their own vaporizer/battery systems, e.g., Pax Pods. The downside of these cartridges is that they limit your ability to mix and match oils from various companies.

Vape kits like the ones from our dispensary contain both the battery and vape cartridge. The vape system tends to be more cost-effective and environmentally friendly since you can keep reducing the battery and only replace the cartridges once they run out.

Before committing to a specific brand of vape cartridges, ensure to do your research first. For instance, though Pax tends to work with many different companies to provide various oils to choose from. Unfortunately, their cartridges are not refillable. This, in turn, contributes to the growing environmental crisis of disposable empty vape cartridges. They are also more expensive than refillable vape cartridges.

What Are Refillable Vape Cartridges

These are empty vape cartridges with a built-in coil and wicking system. They are usually filled with THC or CBD vape oils and distillates. Technically you can use regular nicotine e-liquid, but you would be far better off using a refillable pod vape for that purpose.

Refillable vape cartridges are relatively inexpensive and more cost-effective than using pre-filled cartridges or disposable CBD vape pens. Though some consider empty oil cartridges to be disposable, they can actually be refilled and used multiple especially if made of high-quality materials.

Empty vape pen cartridges that have coils and hold up well can be re-used severally if made of better quality materials. For example, many oil cartridges use modern coil technology, making them last longer than regular coils and stand up better to higher voltages.

How To Refill Empty Vape Cartridges

Refilling empty vape cartridges allows you to tailor-make your own experience as you control the type of concentrate, THC concentration, strain, and any other factor that may be important to you.

It’s advisable to use a syringe instead of a dropper. At this point, you can start by choosing your favorite oil or distillate, as there are various options to select from. You can make your own oil or use a pre-filled distillate from a cannabis dispensary. Once you find what’s right for you, it’s time to start filling the empty vape cartridges.

a) Remove The Mouthpiece

The first step is to open the empty vape cartridge up, and you can do so by twisting it counterclockwise until it fully detaches. Then remove the mouthpiece. Most vape cartridges have a thread that’s designed to keep them firmly in place; hence if you feel like you’re turning and it doesn’t seem to be budging, that’s probably why. However, you can give it another counterclockwise twist and try again about three times. This should do the trick in loosening the thread that’s holding it in place.

If you’re completely unable to remove the mouthpiece and cannot find information about your vape pen/cartridge, it probably means that it does not have refillable cartridges.

Once you take off the mouthpiece, place it in a safe location so that it’s not lost or damaged. Without it, you won’t use your vape cartridge.

b) Filling The Vape Cartridge

This is where you’ll have to rely on your skills of precision. The advisable tool is a syringe as it’s more precise and has a lesser risk of leaking products, but if you don’t have one, then a dropper can suffice.

Choose your preferred concentrate or cannabis oil and carefully measure out the correct amount for your vape cartridge. Next, fill your syringe and gently push the tip into the empty vape cartridge, filling it to the top of where you find the max fill line. It’s advisable to leave the empty vape cartridge attached to the battery to help hold onto it better while refilling.

Most refillable vape cartridges are designed to hold 1 gram or 0.5 grams of cannabis oil or vape juice/e-juice. Ensure that when filling your cartridge, you don’t go over the max line. Additionally, it may look like you have space for more oil, but you’ve got to remember that you still have to put your mouthpiece back on. Overfilling can result in a mess and a waste of your quality products.

c) Put The Mouthpiece Back On

One more step before you’re off to an enjoyable vaping experience.

Take the mouthpiece and carefully put it back onto the vape cartridge. Twist it around clockwise till it is starting to feel secured. You can turn it three to four times till it starts to get tight. However, not too tightly as this could easily break it or the threads.

Recycling Empty Vape Cartridges

Is it possible to recycle your empty vape cartridges? Unfortunately, no. Vape pens and cartridges contain different parts, and they each have different materials.

There are very few recycling facilities that can separate the components that make up vape cartridges and pens. Though specialized recycling centers can help, provinces don’t have sufficient resources to commit to such expensive ventures.

However, there is the growth of sustainability within the cannabis industry. More companies are beginning to move away from single-serve products and towards sustainable solutions. Hence, you can consider buying from and supporting eco-friendly cannabis companies. These companies are likely to use eco-friendly materials like ceramic or bamboo tips and glass cartridges instead of plastic.