Vape-related waste management fires raise safety concerns across the UK

Vape disposal linked to increase in bin lorry fires

The BBC has reported that improperly discarded vapes are contributing to an increasing number of waste management fires in the United Kingdom.

The London Fire Brigade has responded to 41 incidents related to vape fires between 2020 and 2024.

Refuse worker Sean Holness told the BBC that within the last six months he has personally witnessed two fires in his waste collection lorry caused by vapes.

Holness said: “It was a normal day and then the back of the lorry set ablaze.”

Holness added: “We don’t know when a fire can break out – we feel unsafe and are concerned about the safety of the general public.”

Holness said: “It is scary and it is something that we would much prefer not to think about or even experience.”

Holness added: “We are imploring the public to be a little more vigilant and careful and more responsible in how they dispose of battery-operated items.”

Freedom of Information request reveals upward trend

According to the BBC, a Freedom of Information request by The Electric Tobacconist revealed that vape-related fire incidents rose from 89 in 2020 to 399 in 2024.

A total of 1,056 vape and e-cigarette-related fires were reported across 39 fire and rescue services between 2020 and 2024.

The London Fire Brigade was the seventh highest reporting service.

The capital recorded an increase in vape fire incidents from three in 2020 to 14 in 2024.

This data indicates that there is now a vape-related fire approximately every other day on average in the UK, based on the FOI responses.

Fire risk warnings from authorities and retailers

Pascal Culverhouse from The Electric Tobacconist told the BBC that vapes should never be disposed of in household waste.

Culverhouse said: “With any lithium batteries, or electricals containing lithium batteries, there is a serious fire risk if they are placed in your normal household bins or recycling.”

Culverhouse added: “Lithium batteries can explode and catch fire if they are damaged, so it is always the safest option to follow your city’s guidance on vape recycling.”

London Fire Brigade station commander Dee Dale also commented on the dangers of battery fires.

Dale said: “When lithium-ion battery fires happen, they can be ferocious and can spread in seconds.”

Dale added: “A lithium-ion battery in a vape might fail because the battery has been overcharged or because the wrong charger has been used.”

Dale said: “We also suspect that discarded vapes are contributing to an increase in fires involving waste collection vehicles.”

Ban on single-use vapes prompts further concerns

The BBC reported that the government’s ban on single-use vapes, due to take effect on 1 June, has prompted concern about potential changes in fire risk patterns.

Campaign group Material Focus estimated that 8.2 million vapes are disposed of or incorrectly recycled each week in the UK.

Scott Butler from Material Focus said: “New models of vapes are surging on to the market, including big puff style vapes, and our research has shown that already millions of these new style vapes are being thrown away.”

Butler added: “Regretfully too few people know they should be recycling their vapes, partly because they’ve been marketed as disposable, which has embedded a behaviour that we are keen to change.”

Butler said: “Find your nearest recycling point on Recycle Your Electricals, who have a postcode locator which has nearly 30,000 recycling points.”

Vape-related waste management fires raise safety concerns across the UK: Summary

The BBC has reported that waste fires in the UK linked to vape disposal are increasing.

Refuse worker Sean Holness reported witnessing multiple vape-related fires while on duty.

Freedom of Information data showed vape fire incidents rose from 89 in 2020 to 399 in 2024.

There were 1,056 total vape fire incidents recorded across 39 UK fire services over four years.

The London Fire Brigade responded to 41 vape fire incidents during that period.

Authorities and retailers warned that lithium-ion batteries in vapes pose serious fire risks when disposed of incorrectly.

Vapes should be taken to designated electrical recycling points, not placed in household waste.

A government ban on single-use vapes will take effect in the UK on 1 June 2025.

Material Focus estimated 8.2 million vapes are disposed of weekly, with many not recycled properly.

Campaigners said disposable marketing of vapes has contributed to unsafe disposal behaviour.