A fire at a Biffa recycling facility in Aldridge, England, forced a six-month shutdown in 2025 after being ignited by a lithium battery, according to Luke Walter, the site’s regional manager. The incident underscores a growing problem for the waste industry: the increasing volume of improperly discarded vapes and the dangers they pose.
Walter stated that the facility retrieves “thousands” of vapes each month that have been incorrectly placed in recycling bins. He emphasized a widespread “misconception that they’re harmless” which leads individuals to believe they are responsibly disposing of the devices by including them with standard recyclables. However, he warned that these devices are “causing significant problems for the industry and putting people’s lives at risk.”
The risk stems from the lithium-ion batteries contained within vapes. When damaged or crushed during the waste and recycling process, these batteries can short-circuit, leading to fires. Recent reports have highlighted the severity of this issue, with warnings issued over what some are calling “exploding zombie batteries” in vapes. The BBC and AOL.com both reported on the dangers, citing the potential for these batteries to ignite in waste facilities and even during transportation.
The Independent reported on the same issue, framing it as an urgent warning related to the increasing number of vapes entering the waste stream. Fire Safety Matters has also issued a warning, noting that the influx of vapes is exacerbating the problem of “zombie batteries” and their potential to cause fires.
The problem extends beyond the immediate risk of fire. The improper disposal of vapes contributes to environmental concerns as valuable materials are lost and hazardous substances can leach into the environment. The waste industry is reportedly absorbing significant financial losses due to fires and the need for specialized handling of these devices.
Biffa has not yet released a full assessment of the financial impact of the Aldridge fire, and the company has not announced any immediate changes to its recycling procedures beyond reinforcing public awareness campaigns about proper vape disposal. The Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs has yet to comment on the escalating situation.
