Biffa, the UK's largest waste management company, has highlighted the ongoing problem of improper disposal of disposable vapes, which remains a significant issue despite a ban introduced a year ago. Carla Brian from Biffa stated that last month alone, around 200,000 vapes were discovered in waste across four recycling facilities, contributing to an alarming rate of five fires daily caused by these discarded items. Under current UK regulations, placing vapes in general refuse is illegal and can lead to fines of up to £600. To address this, Biffa advocates for a £5 deposit on vapes to encourage consumers to return them to stores or designated recycling facilities. The Environmental Services Association supports this initiative, noting that the existing recycling infrastructure is underperforming due to a lack of incentives. Although the volume of vapes disposed of weekly has decreased from 8.2 million to 6 million, there is still a pressing need for better enforcement and consumer awareness to prevent further risks associated with lithium-ion batteries in waste.