Tobacco and Vape Free Trinity

Tobacco & Vape Free Trinity, 10 Years of Evidence and Impact, 2016 – 2026

Over the past decade, Trinity College Dublin has taken action to drive impact for all people and for the environment by moving towards a Tobacco and Vape free campus. Our current monthly and annual data demonstrates the trend in smoking and vaping observed on campus (see below graphs). Trinity College Dublin became a Tobacco-Free campus in 2016 after a six-year negotiation period.

Healthy Trinity employs student ambassadors to count smoking and vaping in a campus circuit focusing on seven zones 6-8 times per week during term.

Originally Trinity recorded observed smoking on campus only, however in 2022 Trinity included vaping in its living lab circuits. This campus living lab data collection supported efforts to enable Trinity to upgrade its policy and to become a Tobacco and  Vape-Free Campus. Vape free Trinity was launched on 18^th March 2026.

Current Data Update:

• Yearly data: The cumulative annual data demonstrates a downward trend from 2.4 vapers per check in 2024/2025 to 1.2 vapers per check in 2025/2026 and in smoking from 3.2 smokers per check in 2024/2025 to 1.8 in 2025/2026.

• Monthly data: The monthly breakdown of observed smoking and vaping on campus over four years 2022-2026 demonstrates the downward trend in more detail.

• Over time we will understand better the impact of including vaping in the tobacco and vape free Trinity policy.

Recycling Vapes

Trinity offers a vape recycling service alongside batteries. Trinity facilities disposable and rechargeable vape recycling across campus using blue battery recycling boxes and bins. These recycling points are found in multiple locations across campus, see map at this link.

Trinity measures and records the blue battery recycling waste weight since 2024, which includes vape recycling.

• 2024, Recorded weight in 2024 was 0.65 tonnes
• 2025, vape waste recycling increased to 5.48 tonnes
• 2026 figures will be available in early 2027