Battery and Vape Fires in the UK Waste System on Course for a Record Year

Based on data from 2026 so far, a fire caused by improperly discarded batteries or e-cigarettes (vapes) is reported on average every nine days in the UK. According to a newly launched public tracker, the number of dangerous incidents in the island nation’s waste management network is rising drastically, and the current year could bring the worst statistics to date.

New Public Platform Maps Battery Fires

To ensure transparency and track these incidents, CellComply, a battery waste compliance company, has launched the “UK Battery Fire Tracker“. This new public platform is the first network to map all reported cases and consolidate them into a single database.

According to the tracker’s data, since January 2023, a total of 88 fires have been registered in refuse trucks, recycling centers, and landfill sites. For the sake of objectivity and transparency, every single incident in the database is dated, mapped to its exact location, and directly linked to its published source.

Alarming Statistics and the Outlook for 2026

Public reports reveal a highly concerning trend in the country’s waste management: the number of reported incidents increased by 88 percent between 2023 and 2025. Furthermore, 2026 is on track to be the worst year on record. By early July, 20 fire incidents had already been registered, an exceptionally high number considering that 32 such incidents were recorded in the entirety of 2025.

The statistics also highlight the immediate danger of the situation: more than half of the cases, exactly 52 percent, ignite directly inside refuse collection vehicles. This phenomenon often creates emergencies where crews are forced to tip flaming waste onto open, residential streets to save the vehicle and protect their own physical safety.

The Impact of Vapes and Hidden Dangers

Among all recorded cases, the most easily identifiable specific triggers were vapes, which are linked to 23 percent of the registered incidents. The data indicates that this problem remains prominent in the country a full year after the ban on disposable e-cigarettes.

Elliot Blackler, the founder of CellComply, emphasized regarding the recent statistics: „Every single one of these fires started with a battery or vape thrown in the wrong bin.” He added that the tracker was built precisely because national statistics are only published once a year, whereas in reality, fires occur on a weekly basis. Blackler also pointed out that shops and businesses collecting faulty and depleted batteries and vapes represent the hotspots where risk accumulates. According to him, most of these businesses have no idea that existing regulations already require them to store and dispose of these devices safely.

Over a Thousand Fires and Billions in Industry Damages

Although the number of public cases recorded on the tracker continues to grow, the true scale of the problem far exceeds the reported data. According to research estimates by Material Focus and the National Fire Chiefs Council, in reality, more than 1,200 battery-caused fires strike the UK waste management system every year.

The continuous deterioration of the situation is also supported by the experience of Biffa, a major UK waste management giant. Despite the official ban coming into effect on June 1, the company registered a 7 percent increase in the number of improperly discarded vapes at its material recovery facilities across the country in June and July alone.

Maxine Mayhew, Biffa’s Chief Operating Officer, summarized the critical conditions as follows: „The UK is facing a growing epidemic of battery-related fires in both refuse collection vehicles and waste management facilities. This phenomenon threatens human lives, communities, vital infrastructure, and the environment. All this costs the waste management industry £1 billion annually.”

References and Sources:

• Professional portal processing the original press release: Waste360 – Battery and Vape Fires in the UK Waste System on Course for Record Year, New Public Tracker Shows

• Additional news agency source: EIN Presswire – CellComply Press Releases