Ban on single-use vapes is welcome, says National Fire Chiefs Council

Responding to today’s announcement that the Government will introduce a ban on single-use vapes, National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Waste Fires Lead, Rob Barber, said:

“Today’s announcement is very welcome. Millions of single-use vapes are binned in household rubbish each year, and not only are they bad for the environment, they pose a fire risk in the waste disposal industry.

“We know that battery fires in bin lorries and at waste sites are at an all-time high, with research by Material Focus showing there were over 1,200 in 2023. Vapes contain lithium-ion batteries, and these can cause fires when crushed or damaged that can be explosive, spread rapidly, reignite, and which can produce toxic gasses posing a risk to firefighters and people working in the waste industry. The ban on single-use vapes will help to reduce the number of potential ignition sources that enter the waste industry, leading to fewer waste fires.

“A crucial next step would be the introduction of robust product safety standards for the rechargeable vape industry so that we don’t see people trying to fill the void left by single-use vapes by turning to cheap unregulated products from the global marketplace.”

ENDS

Notes to editor

• The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) is an independent membership association and the professional voice of the UK Fire and Rescue Service. NFCC support fire and rescue services to continually improve, helping them to save lives and keep their local communities safe. NFCC are a charity and a membership association supporting and representing the UK Fire and Rescue Service. Founded in 1941, NFCC was established as a company and charity in 1998 as The Chief Fire Officers’ Association, transforming into the NFCC in 2017.
• More information about research conducted by Material Focus into waste fires can be found here.