The National Fire Chiefs Council estimates more than 1,200 battery related fires happen in the UK waste system every year, and CellComply's tracker shows reported incidents rose 88 per cent between 2023 and 2025. Over half of these fires, 52 per cent, start inside bin lorries, where a crushed battery or vape can ignite among tonnes of compressed waste. Vapes are linked to 23 per cent of incidents, despite the UK wide ban on single use devices that took effect on 1 June 2025, covered in our one year on retrospective.

Waste company Biffa reported a 70 per cent year on year rise in battery related fires at its sites in the summer of 2025, warning the trend was costing the waste industry an estimated £1 billion a year. In nearly every case, the underlying cause is the same: a battery or a vape placed in the wrong bin, or a device charged in a way it was never designed for.

Official guidance on e-cigarette battery safety, backed by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, Electrical Safety First, the Independent British Vape Trade Association, Public Health England and UK fire services, sets out a short list of habits that prevent the vast majority of charging related fires.

• Use only the charger and cable supplied with your device, rather than one borrowed from another gadget.
• Never leave a vape charging overnight or unattended, and unplug it as soon as it reaches full charge.
• Charge on a flat, heat resistant surface within sight, away from bedding, curtains or anything flammable.
• Never use a battery that is damaged, swollen or leaking, and never bypass a device's built in safety features.

Loose batteries rattling around in a bag or a coat pocket are a common cause of short circuits, especially when they touch keys, coins or other metal objects. A few simple storage habits go a long way.

• Keep spare batteries in a proper case or their original packaging, never loose in a bag or pocket.
• Store devices and batteries out of reach of children, somewhere cool, dry and out of direct sunlight.
• Never leave a vape in a hot car or next to a radiator, since extreme heat can cause a cell to fail.
• Check batteries regularly, and stop using any that feel dented, swollen or warm when idle.

In March 2026, the Office for Product Safety and Standards launched its "Small Habits Big Difference" campaign, promoted under the hashtags #SafeVapeDisposal and #DontBinThatVape, to tackle exactly this problem. The guidance is straightforward: store a used vape safely until it can be recycled, remove the battery where the device allows it, and never put a vape or its battery in general waste or household recycling. Instead, use a dedicated vape recycling point at a shop, supermarket or household waste recycling centre. Retailers are encouraged to offer their own take back points for used devices.

Our Environmental Impact page has more detail on how to recycle responsibly and why it matters, alongside wider guidance on our Health & Safety page.