Vape fires more than double in just two years

24 October 2024

The number of e-cigarette users has risen from 800,000 in 2012 to 5.6 million today.

  • Incorrect disposal of vapes has led to fire and rescue services across the country tackling 241 vape related fires in the last year alone, up 119% since 2022
  • Across the UK, fire and rescue teams attended 38 vape related fires in Lancashire, followed by Greater Manchester (34) and Nottinghamshire (24)
  • 38% of vapers admit they don’t know how to dispose of single use devices correctly with an estimated five million1 vapes thrown away every week in the UK
  • Only one in three (31%) vapers recycle disposable devices through the designated e-waste recycling program
  • Ahead of the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill committee reading, Zurich urges the government to address the safe disposal of items that contain lithium-ion batteries and help improve public education

Fires from vapes and e-cigarettes have more than doubled over the last two years according to new data from Zurich Municipal2, which correlates with the number of vapers rising from 800,000 in 2012 to 5.6 million today3. Ahead of the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill committee reading, Zurich urges the government to address the safe disposal of items that contain lithium-ion batteries.

Freedom of information data2, obtained by Zurich Municipal from 35 fire and rescue services shows that fire crews attended 241 fires caused by vapes last year. This is a 119% increase from 2021 (110 fires).

Lancashire County Council has dealt with the highest number of vape related fires in the last year at 38, a 137% increase in the past two years. Other regions that have seen a stark increase include Greater Manchester (34) and Nottinghamshire (24).

Further research4 conducted by Zurich Municipal among 1,000 UK adults shows vapers may be inadvertently creating fire risks – nearly four in ten (38%) admit they either don’t dispose of vapes correctly or are not aware of how to dispose of them safely.

Disposable vapes or e-cigarettes contain lithium-ion batteries that can spark a fire if they are not recycled or disposed of properly. These devices can also degrade and release harmful chemicals into the environment if they are left sitting in landfill.

Giuseppe Capanna, product safety engineer at Electrical Safety First, added:

“Vapes contain lithium-ion batteries that cause severe fires and release toxic fumes if they malfunction or get damaged.

“Please don’t dispose of vapes in general waste or recycling bins at home, as they can catch fire if damaged. Vapes can generally be disposed of through take-back schemes with retailers or at your local household recycling centre.”

How to safely dispose of single use vapes?

Vape shops and retailers that sell vapes have a legal responsibility to take back devices to be safely disposed of or recycled. However, these can also be recycled at local authority recycling centres or some recycling banks in car parks and designated roadside areas which have dedicated bins specifically for the disposal of electrical waste.

However, the research shows that one in three (31%) people who vape recycle their single use devices via designated e-waste recycling programmes, and just one in six (16%) seek out drop off locations or recycling centres that accept e-cigarettes and vapes. Only 2% return them to the manufacturer or retailer for proper disposal.

Alix Bedford, risk expert at Zurich Municipal, commented:

“It’s clear from our research that vape related fires are on the rise and at a rapid pace. It’s frightening to think that such a small device that many people carry in their pocket could cause a fire that can last for hours at a time and leave utter devastation in its wake. Unfortunately, experts share that the majority of these fires could have been prevented if people knew the correct way to recycle vapes safely.”

Rob Barber, CFO of Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said:

“People need to be aware that even small products such as vapes contain lithium-ion batteries. It’s important for the safety of people working in the waste industry and firefighters to prevent these fires and never dispose of vapes in general household waste.”

Lord Foster of Bath, who is calling for tighter regulation on lithium batteries, said:

“Over the last few years I have been campaigning to raise awareness of the fire risks from some lithium-ion battery devices. It is clear that this is a growing issue which is not only costing millions of pounds, but also risking lives here and around the world. There is an opportunity now for the Government to take action to reduce these risks and ensure safety for all with the Product Regulation & Metrology Bill”.

Lord Redesdale, who has been raising awareness of fire risks said:

"Addressing fire safety issues with lithium-ion battery devices is of the utmost importance. In particular, people need to be able to dispose of them easily and safely through local advice. I encourage the Government to implement the necessary measures to tackle this growing problem."

A spokesperson for Lancashire County Council said:

"Recently (September 8), a lithium battery spontaneously combusted in the battery bin at Lytham Household Waste Centre. This is the latest in a series of fires causes by batteries across Lancashire's waste facilities this year alone. At Preston Transfer Station, a blaze in June affected around one tonne of cardboard and in April, one caused around 40 tonnes of recycling products to be lost as they had to be disposed of.

"Batteries can cause fires if they are damaged or crushed, leading to potentially deadly consequences. These include items you may not have considered, such as vapes, electric toothbrushes and singing birthday cards.”

Top tips on disposing or recycling lithium-ion batteries

  • Return to shops: Shops that sell vapes often have designated bins for old devices. It is a legal requirement for shops that sell vapes to take old devices back, whether you bought them from that specific shop or not.
  • Use a local refuse collection: Some local authorities offer the specific option to pick up electrical waste during the usual collection or on request. Contact your local authority or visit their website to find out if this is an option in your area.
  • Visit a local authority recycling centre: Bins are typically provided for the safe disposal of batteries. All other parts of your vape (or the entire device if the vape battery cannot be removed) can be placed in the electrical waste bins.
  • Go to a local recycling bank: Some recycling banks in carparks and designated roadside areas have dedicated bins specifically for the disposal of electrical waste.
  • Charging: Never leave vaping devices charging overnight and always use the charger provided by the manufacturer. Faulty chargers can lead to overheating and potential fires.

Top ten highest number of vape fires across the UK in the last year:

Total vape fires in the last year
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service 38
Greater Manchester Combined Authority 34
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service 38
Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue 24
Kent Fire & Rescue 22
Leicestershire Fire & Rescue Service 22
Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service 19
West Yorkshire Fire &Rescue Service 14
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue 11
Humberside Fire & Rescue Service 7
Merseyside Fire & Rescue 6

Notes to editors

1Material Focus
2Freedom of Information requests based on responses from 35 out of 48 UK Fire and Rescue Services contacted by Zurich Municipal.
3ASH
4Based on an online survey of 1,000 parents with children aged 5 to 17 years old. The survey was conducted online with OnePoll between 8th and 14th August 2024.

Article tags: