Warnings issued on binning vapes after more than 60 fires in Lincolnshire.
Disposable vapes may be on the way out, but while they are still for sale, they must be recycled at your local Household Waste Recycling Centre, and not put in the bin.
Waste officers and the fire service are warning of the dangers of people binning their vapes, as well as other batteries and electricals. They can all cause fires and you should never put any kind of battery, electrical or vape in any bin or bags.
The warning comes after more than 60 fires were started by wrongfully discarded electronics and batteries last year at the processing plant near Grantham, where the county’s recycling is taken.
Rachel Stamp, waste partnership and projects manager, said: “The term ‘disposable’ is really misleading! All vapes contain a battery, and if you throw them in your bin, they can be damaged during processing which causes a spark that can start a fire. This has led to fires in bin lorries and at our recycling sites.
“General waste and recycling gets compacted a number of times on its journey from your home to the energy from waste plant or recycling centre, and it takes just one battery or vape to set the whole load alight.”
There is currently a plan to stop the sale of disposable vapes by the end of 2025 – this is partly due to their effect on the environment. It’s believed that up to five million disposable vapes are thrown away every week.
Each of Lincolnshire’s 11 recycling centres have specific containers for vapes, batteries, and small and large electrical items. Batteries can also be taken to recycling points in most supermarkets and other shops that sell them.
Although the dangers of binning batteries and vapes are becoming more well-known, there are still regular fires occurring in Lincolnshire due to incorrectly discarded electronics.
Dan Moss, area manager for prevention and protection at Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, said: “Fires at waste sites or in vehicles can often be difficult to extinguish, and can have serious effects on the environment, and the safety of firefighters and local communities. As waste is compacted and bulked together, there’s plenty of material for fire to spread quickly, and, depending on the type of waste burning, the fumes can be dangerous.
“If residents have old vapes or other battery devices or electricals to get rid of, I’d encourage them to think carefully about the most appropriate way to recycle them.”
For details about your local Household Waste Recycling Centre and what can be recycled there, visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/waste
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