How should we dispose of disposable vapes-

Getty ImagesCouncils and refuse workers are urging people not to throw disposable vapes in regular bins, but recycle them properly insteadAs the number of adults estimated to vape continues to rise – from four-and-a-half million in 2022 to more than five million in 2023 in Great Britain – there are concerns about the negative impact of throwing away single-use or disposable vapes.
London Fire Brigade said it had to respond to more than 200 fires caused by lithium batteries – as found in disposable vapes – in the past two years.
Refuse collectors and local councils joined in the plea to residents to get rid of disposable vapes responsibly, after instances where lithium batteries put in household waste caused fires putting workers at risk.
So can Londoners do this – and is it such an issue if they don't?
Are all vapes hard to recycle?Campaigners say the materials and chemicals used to make vapes – including their lithium batteries – make them difficult to dispose of safely.
Refillable vapes and e-cigarettes allow you to remove and recycle the battery, London Fire Brigade (LFB) said.
This is harder with disposable vapes because the lithium batteries are inside the enclosed casing of the vape itself, so unable to be removed easily.
One recycling facility previously told BBC London it dismantles them, then crushes the battery into fine powders for re-use.
Research published in 2023 by not-for-profit organisation Material Focus suggested only 17% of disposable vape recycle – and an estimated five million disposable vapes are thrown away each week in the UK.
Getty ImagesIt is harder to recycle batteries in disposable vapes as they are not easily removedWhy can't I recycle them at home?The LFB said: "Lithium batteries and electricals with hidden lithium batteries should not be placed in the same bins as your regular rubbish or recycling."
There is a risk of the battery exploding and catching fire if it has been damaged.
Fires at landfill sites have been caused when batteries have been thrown away in household bins, compacted in waste lorries, or are stored in landfill.
The LFB said these battery-started fires are "time consuming, and require a high level of resources" to put out.