By GB News (World News) | Created at 2026-09-30 18:45:50 | Updated at 2026-09-30 22:25:07
4 hours ago
Labour is being urged to crack down on illegal "mega puff" vapes amid claims they are driving fires and waste.
Mega puff devices advertise more than 1,000 puffs, with some claiming up to 4,000. They have flooded the market since the disposable vape ban.
Sales of mega puff vape liquid have tripled, from just over 5 million ml a month in October 2024 to 15.5 million by May 2026.
Fires caused by vapes in the waste stream have risen 71 per cent since 2022, according to independent electronic recycling campaigners Material Focus, with incidents set to rise as the Government is set to introduce a new one-off uplift in vape excise on October 1, which could drive more consumers towards dangerous devices.
Laurie Pollard, Director at Firechief Global, told GB News: "Lithium-ion batteries are now one of the fastest-growing fire risks we see, and cheap, poorly made vapes are a big part of that.
"Illegal or non-compliant devices often skip the basic safety protections found in legitimate products, which makes them more likely to overheat, catch fire or fail when they're damaged or thrown away."
Recycling firm Suez recorded 670 fires across its sites in 2025. Some 368 were confirmed as caused by batteries or vapes, and a further 176 were suspected to be linked.
That is more than 80 per cent of all fires at its sites.
Recycling firm Suez recorded 670 fires across its sites in 2025. Some 368 were confirmed as caused by batteries or vapes, and a further 176 were suspected to be linked
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Steve Daniels, Operations Manager at Suez, said the firm is processing more big puff vapes with larger batteries since the disposable ban.
Mr Pollard said: "When vapes go into household bins or recycling, the batteries can be crushed and ignite, putting bin lorries, waste sites and the people who work there at risk."
Scott Butler, Executive Director of Material Focus, which runs Recycle Your Electricals, said: "Any vape, legal or illegal, can cause a fire if thrown in the bin.
"Six million vapes and pods are thrown away every week. Binning them wastes valuable materials and creates a major fire risk.
"It should be as easy to recycle a vape as it is to buy one. Retailers selling vapes have a longstanding legal obligation to provide safe recycling drop-off points.
"Keep vapes out of your household bins and use the Recycle Your Electricals postcode locator to find your nearest drop-off point to recycle them safely."
'When vapes go into household bins or recycling, the batteries can be crushed and ignite, putting bin lorries, waste sites and the people who work there at risk,' explains Mr Pollard
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Material Focus research shows 66 per cent of vapers bin their devices, up from 61 per cent in 2024.
The disposable ban was meant to cut waste. But devices are often sold in the same packs as refill pods, so many users buy a new device each time the liquid runs out.
More device-and-pod packs are now sold each week (1.3 million) than standalone refill pods (1.1 million).
Experts want the Government to ban the sale of vapes and pods in the same packaging.
GB News previously reported on the need for tighter restrictions, after retailers warned that the new restrictions were being flouted.
The calls come as a one-off rise in vape excise duty is due on October 1, which experts fear could push more consumers towards cheaper devices.
Mr Pollard added: "We'd like to see tougher action against sellers of illegal devices and far better access to safe battery disposal, so that used vapes stop ending up in bins and waste sites where they can start fires.
"In the meantime, consumers should buy only from reputable retailers, avoid charging devices unattended, and recycle them properly."
