More than 6m vapes and pods binned each week despite disposable use ban

"More than six million vapes and vape pods are discarded in the UK each week, despite a ban on disposable e-cigarettes. Recycling systems are under increasing strain due to the sheer volume of vapes being thrown away, waste management companies have warned."

"The study found that 47 per cent of vapers were unaware their devices could be recycled, with waste management company Biffa reporting that they receive more than 200,000 incorrectly recycled vapes each month."

"Improperly binned devices can spark fires in recycling centres or lorries due to their lithium-ion batteries, which can explode when crushed. Fire services across the UK have also reported a dramatic increase in the number of incidents in recent years."

"Veolia, another waste management company, said it tackled an estimated one fire a day across its facilities, while a ban on disposable vapes came into force last summer."

In the UK, over six million vapes and vape pods are discarded weekly, straining recycling systems. A 23% decrease in disposal was noted in 2025, yet 6.3 million vapes are still binned. Many vapers are unaware of recycling options, leading to over 200,000 incorrectly recycled devices monthly. Improper disposal poses fire risks due to lithium-ion batteries. Waste management companies report a significant rise in fire incidents, with Veolia managing about one fire daily at its facilities. A ban on disposable vapes was implemented last summer to address these issues.

Read at www.independent.co.uk