The Dangers of Disposing of Lithium Ion Batteries and Vapes

There were over 1,200 battery fires in bin lorries and on waste sites in the UK in 2023 according to the National Fire Chiefs Council. That’s a dramatic rise from 700, the figure from 2022, which was already an alarming number.

As a society, we’re becoming more and more reliant on products powered by lithium-ion batteries. From laptops and smartphones to small, disposable vapes, there has been a significant rise in products being made with these batteries. But there is a real danger with this, as these items can easily start fires when not disposed of correctly.

Insurance company Zurich UK has highlighted the cost of battery fires, with claims ranging up to £20 million in extreme cases. That’s why this month at Reston Waste, we want to give some guidance and tips on how to dispose of lithium-ion batteries and vapes. We hope that this will help keep everyone safe from the dangers of hazardous waste.

How to dispose of lithium-ion batteries

Lithium batteries are potentially volatile items when they are disposed of incorrectly. This is because any impact damage or overheating can lead to thermal runaway, with a risk of toxic fumes and explosions. For this reason, we cannot accept these items in our skips or bins.

Here are some steps to follow for disposing of lithium-ion batteries:

• Remove the battery from the device if there is a way to safely do so. This will allow you to dispose of the other materials separately. 

• Find your nearest designated battery recycling point. This could be an electronics store or a recycling centre that accepts batteries.

• For mobile phone batteries, check to see if your local council offers a collection service. Merton London Borough Council, for example, offers carrier bags to leave out with your regular bins.

• If you’re a business with a fireproof cabinet, store your unwanted batteries here until you locate an appropriate waste collection service.

• Never throw your lithium-ion batteries in general waste or rubbish bins, as they can be crushed or damaged, leading to fires at waste sites — always look for a designated recycling or collection point.

How to safely dispose of vapes

Having grown hugely popular in recent years, disposable vapes pose a real danger. This is largely because they’re advertised as being disposable, but you should never discard vapes in regular bins. Here are some steps to follow if you have a vape you no longer need:

• Remove the battery for separate disposal if possible – if it’s a sealed unit, treat it as you would other WEEE items. 

• Try to find a retailer take-back scheme, where they will then send used vapes away for recycling.

• Find your nearest electrical recycling centre or a specific battery recycling point for items containing lithium batteries. This could be at a supermarket or household recycling centre where small electronics are accepted.
• Never throw your vapes into regular bins or with your household waste as they can ignite if damaged in lorries and on waste sites.

We are not able to accept batteries of any kind at Reston Waste due to their hazardous nature. You can learn more about the waste types we do and do not accept on our dedicated sections on our help and advice page.

We’re committed to upholding the highest standards of safety for our employees and the general public with our skip hire and waste management services. We also aim to recycle as much of your waste as possible, helping to reduce your impact on the environment.

If you’d like to arrange for skip hire or waste management in London – including West, South West, South East and Central London – then don’t hesitate to contact us today.