Fire and ‘sheer volume’: how Britain’s 6m-vape problem is putting recycling under strain
The UK is facing a significant challenge with the disposal of over 6 million vapes and vape pods each week, despite a ban on disposable devices. Waste management companies report that the sheer volume of discarded vapes is straining recycling systems and causing safety hazards, including fires linked to lithium-ion batteries. Efforts to address the issue have not yet changed public perception, as many still treat vapes as regular waste instead of taking them to designated recycling points.
- ▪Over 6 million vapes are discarded weekly in the UK, straining recycling systems.
- ▪Vapes are suspected to cause over 80% of reported fires at waste management sites.
- ▪Despite a ban on disposable vapes, the volume of discarded devices remains high, leading to safety concerns.
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Dr Adam Read, from the waste management firm Suez, at the company’s recycling plant in Birmingham. Photograph: Fabio De Paola/The GuardianView image in fullscreenDr Adam Read, from the waste management firm Suez, at the company’s recycling plant in Birmingham. Photograph: Fabio De Paola/The GuardianVapingFire and ‘sheer volume’: how Britain’s 6m-vape problem is putting recycling under strainDespite the ban on disposables, waste professionals say the mountain of discarded devices is a £1bn-a-year issue Sarah Marsh Consumer affairs correspondent Sun 17 May 2026 04.00 EDTLast modified on Sun 17 May 2026 04.01 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleIt is 2pm and Ana, 47, has just started the afternoon shift at the Suez recycling plant near Birmingham city centre, standing beneath a sign reading…
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