Fire risk from one-way vapes: waste management demands immediate ban!

Fire risk from one-way vapes: waste management demands immediate ban!

Österreich, Land - An alarming development in waste management has fueled the discussion about one-way vapes. On April 30, 2025, the waste and resource industry reported on the need for a ban on these devices. The reason for this is the great danger from lithium batteries that are integrated in the products. The prevailing practice is that these devices often end up in residual waste instead of being properly disposed of via trade or at municipal collection points.

A survey from the summer of the previous year shows that 75 percent of Austrians support such a spell. Daily fires in waste management companies, collection vehicles as well as living and storage rooms are increasingly caused by damaged lithium batteries. Gabriele Jüly, President of the Association of Austrian Disposal Companies, emphasizes the urgent need for legal intervention, since companies have made considerable investments in fire protection in recent years. However, despite these measures, the increase in products with lithium batteries represents an existential threat to the waste management companies.

fire risk due to improper disposal

Anton Kasser, President of ARGE AWV, describes one-way-E-cigarettes as an “environmental sin”, especially in times of scarce resources. The improper disposal also leads to a considerable loss of valuable raw materials such as lead, nickel, lithium and cobalt. Otherwise, these materials could be recovered by recycling, which, in addition to reducing the environmental impact, also promotes the support of a circular economy.

The technical marking of batteries and battery -operated old devices could be improved by modern technologies such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). According to ifat.de, a feasibility study is proposed to investigate this solution. In the long term, the development of solid batteries could reduce the risk of fire because they offer a higher storage capacity and a lower risk of fires.

recycling and environmental protection

The recycling of lithium batteries is a central aspect of modern waste management. It not only reduces environmental pollution, but also enables the recovery of valuable materials. However, improper disposal carries considerable risks because lithium batteries contain dangerous substances that can lead to soil and water pollution. The recycling methods include pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy and direct recycling that allow important raw materials to regain.

False disposal can release fatal vapors, which underlines the urgency of the topic. Collection points for lithium batteries can often be found in battery retailers, electronics shops and specialized recycling centers. Online addiction tools help to find suitable recycling locations, such as Earth911 or or Call2recycle.