Waste and recycling fires rise across North America
Iain Hoey
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Waste and recycling fire incidents surge in July and August
Waste360 has reported that publicly recorded waste and recycling fires in the United States and Canada hit record highs in July and August 2025.
The organisation explained that 56 incidents were recorded in July, marking the highest number ever in a single month.
It added that August recorded 49 incidents, the most ever seen in that month.
According to Waste360, 19 of these occurred at waste, paper and plastics facilities, 14 at metal recycling sites, seven at organics facilities, four at rubber operations, two each at construction and demolition sites and electronics facilities, and one at a hazardous materials operation.
The outlet noted that when comparing the first eight months of 2025 to the same period over the past nine years, only 2024 showed the same number of publicly reported incidents.
Vape batteries and the “vape effect”
Waste360 reported that Ryan Fogelman, vice president of strategic partnerships at Fire Rover, has identified a key driver of this trend.
Fogelman said: “I coined the term ‘vape effect’ to describe the rising number of lithium-ion batteries entering nearly all waste and recycling facilities globally.
“An estimated 1.2 billion single-use vapes will continue to increase every year as more adults over the age of 21 make the switch from traditional cigarettes to vapes.
“Manufacturers are now pushing for more ‘disposable vapes,’ even going as far as using the term ‘daily disposable’ when marketing to customers.
“As mentioned in previous articles, we need to provide convenient and safe drop-off locations for these products as well as educate our nation’s youth and their parents about the importance of properly disposing of lithium-ion batteries.”
Fogelman added that the vape effect has contributed to a 20.6% rise in reported incidents when comparing 2016–2021 data to 2022–2025.
Fire Rover suppression and incident tracking
According to Waste360, Fire Rover suppressed more than 268 fires in 2024 and is projected to handle over 500 in 2025.
The organisation noted that this growth highlights the scale of lithium-ion battery hazards in the waste stream.
Fire Rover systems are currently installed at nearly 800 facilities in the United States and Canada.
Fogelman has tracked and published reported facility fire data since 2016, developing annual reports used across the sector.
Metal, organics and electronics recycling incidents
Waste360 reported that metal recycling facilities recorded slightly fewer fires in 2025 compared with the previous year.
It said incidents were down 15% compared with 2024, though the outlet noted that September and October often see higher totals.
According to Waste360, organics and electronics recycling facilities have seen only slight reductions in incidents despite more facilities opening in recent years.
The publication explained that this shows the continuing impact of lithium-ion batteries across diverse materials streams.
Industry calls for regulation and disposal options
Waste360 highlighted that waste management company Biffa has urged the UK government to introduce curbside vape collection schemes.
According to the outlet, the company reported a 7% rise in incorrect vape disposals after the 1 June ban on disposable vapes.
It added that in Teesside, there was a 24% rise, with 232,500 units wrongly placed in recycling bins in June and July.
Biffa chief operating officer Maxine Mayhew said: “The UK is facing a growing epidemic of battery-related fires in both bin lorries and at waste management facilities which threatens lives, communities, vital infrastructure, and the environment.
“It’s costing the waste industry £1 billion a year.
“Whether discarded in a recycling bin, black bin bags at home, or litter bins out and about, batteries wreak havoc when they are not disposed of at a specialist takeback point, or at a supermarket or any other designated location.
“Vapes, in particular, have risen in popularity in recent years, but disposal behaviour hasn’t caught up with the trend, with many of them being discarded in any nearby bin or even littered on the ground.
“This is too often because of a lack of understanding of the fire hazard lithium batteries hidden in these items pose even when they appear to have run out of charge.”
Education and prevention initiatives
Waste360 reported that the National Waste & Recycling Association has launched a new safety campaign called Battery Safety Now.
The programme features mascot Woodsy Owl, best known for his anti-littering slogan, now rebranded with the message: “Skip the Bin, Turn Your Batteries In!”
The initiative is intended to highlight safe disposal practices for lithium-ion batteries and reduce fire risks in waste facilities.
According to Waste360, Fogelman emphasised that even with fire suppression technologies in place, education and drop-off schemes are essential.
Relevance for fire and safety professionals
Fire and safety professionals face increasing exposure to incidents caused by lithium-ion batteries within waste streams.
The data indicates that these fires are now a consistent risk across the year rather than seasonal spikes.
The rise in vape disposals highlights the need for coordinated public education, improved collection infrastructure, and regulatory alignment.
Sector professionals will need to prepare response strategies, adapt fire protection systems and support wider campaigns to reduce lithium-ion fire incidents.
Waste and recycling fires rise across North America: Summary
Waste360 has reported that publicly recorded waste and recycling fires in the United States and Canada hit record highs in July and August 2025.
It explained that July saw 56 incidents, the highest ever recorded in a single month.
It added that August recorded 49 incidents, the most ever seen in that month.
Waste360 reported that 19 of these occurred at waste, paper and plastics facilities, 14 at metal recycling sites, seven at organics facilities, four at rubber operations, two each at construction and demolition sites and electronics facilities, and one at a hazardous materials operation.
According to Waste360, Fire Rover suppressed more than 268 fires in 2024 and is projected to handle over 500 in 2025.
Fire Rover systems are currently installed at nearly 800 facilities in the United States and Canada.
Fogelman said the vape effect has contributed to a 20.6% rise in reported incidents when comparing 2016–2021 data to 2022–2025.
He explained that improperly discarded lithium-ion batteries in single-use vapes are a primary driver of the increase.
Biffa has called on the UK government to introduce curbside vape collection schemes after reporting increases in incorrect disposal following the 1 June ban.
It said there was a 7% rise in improper disposal across its sites, with a 24% surge in Teesside.
The National Waste & Recycling Association has launched a campaign called Battery Safety Now, promoting safe disposal of batteries with the message “Skip the Bin, Turn Your Batteries In!”.