Fire and ‘sheer volume’: how Britain’s 6m-vape problem is putting recycling under strain
Summary
More than 6 million vapes are discarded weekly in the UK, creating challenges for recycling centers. These devices contain lithium-ion batteries that often cause fires, making recycling difficult and costly.Key Facts
- Single-use vapes were banned in the UK in June 2025, but millions are still thrown away every week.
- Recycling staff must carefully dismantle vapes, removing batteries separately to reduce fire risks.
- Lithium-ion batteries in vapes caused or were suspected in over 80% of fires at a major recycling company’s sites in 2025.
- The company Suez reported 670 fires in 2025 at its UK sites, with many linked to vaping devices.
- Fires at recycling centers are expensive, sometimes destroying entire facilities and costing millions.
- People often incorrectly dispose of vapes with normal recycling, unaware of the fire risk from batteries.
- The shift from disposable to rechargeable vapes has changed the waste but not reduced the volume.
- Experts estimate around £1 billion is spent yearly dealing with fires and issues caused by vape waste.
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