One year after the introduction of the disposable vape ban, significant numbers of vapes continue to be incorrectly discarded in household waste and recycling streams, maintaining concerns about the fire risks associated with lithium-ion batteries.

New data shared with consumer safety charity Electrical Safety First by Biffa, the UK’s largest waste management company, reveals that more than two million incorrectly disposed of vapes were identified at just four of its facilities between June 2025 and March 2026. This equates to almost 300 vapes every hour, or more than 6,500 each day.

The findings coincide with a survey of 1,000 UK vapers conducted by Electrical Safety First, which found that 59% admitted to disposing of vapes in household rubbish or recycling bins during the past 12 months. This is despite the same proportion recognising that incorrect disposal can contribute to fires in waste collection vehicles and recycling facilities.

Of those who reported disposing of vapes in general household waste, 67% said they did so at least once a week. Similarly, 71% of respondents who had placed vapes in household recycling bins reported doing so on a weekly basis or more frequently. These figures suggest that millions of vapes may still be entering the waste management system every week.

Real risk

Giuseppe Capanna, product safety engineer at Electrical Safety First, said: “Every vape thrown into the household rubbish or recycling has the potential to create very real and frightening risks for waste collection workers who are simply doing their job.”

Capanna continued: “Vapes contain lithium-ion batteries and, when they’re disposed of incorrectly, those batteries can be crushed or damaged, which can then lead to fires that have the potential to escalate rapidly and put workers at risk.”

In terms of risk mitigation, Capanna noted: “Safe disposal can start with simple changes. If you use vapes, build safe disposal into your routine. For example, every time you go to the supermarket or a vape shop, drop off your used vapes at the designated vape disposal point.”

According to Capanna: “Every household can help turn the tide on this issue by making safe disposal a habit rather than an afterthought, in turn reducing the number of dangerous batteries entering the waste stream. We urge all households to stop and think. Don’t bin the battery.”

Barriers to Safe Disposal

While some consumers reported using appropriate disposal routes, including taking devices to recycling centres or designated collection points (28%) or returning them to retailers (16%), the research highlights several barriers that continue to prevent correct disposal.

More than a quarter of respondents (27%) said they were unaware that vapes require specialist disposal, while 25% believed it was acceptable to place them in household bins. A further 21% cited a lack of convenient local disposal options.

Vapes contain lithium-ion batteries, which can present a significant fire risk if damaged. When discarded in general waste or recycling streams, devices may be crushed, punctured or compacted during collection and processing. This can lead to battery failure, overheating and ignition.

Fires involving lithium-ion batteries can spread rapidly within waste collection vehicles and recycling facilities, placing workers at risk, disrupting operations and causing substantial property damage. Improper disposal can also result in batteries leaking hazardous substances into the environment.

The findings underline the continued need for greater public awareness, improved disposal infrastructure and stronger compliance with vape recycling requirements to reduce fire risks and support safe waste management practices.

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