“When Safety Goes Up in Smoke: The Rise of the ‘Vapocalypse’ and What It Teaches Us About Battery Safety”

Vape Batteries are a danger when disposed of improperly.

Fire officials in West Sussex recently battled a blaze that investigators believe was caused by a vaping device left charging in a bedroom. This incident is far from isolated. According to the nonprofit Material Focus, the U.K. experienced over 1,200 fires in 2023 in trash bins, garbage trucks, and waste facilities — all tied to improperly discarded lithium-ion batteries. Many of those batteries came from vapes.

The group has coined the term “vapocalypse” to describe this growing problem. Similarly, safety analyst Ryan Fogelman calls it the “vape effect,” linking the surge of fires in waste and recycling centers to discarded e-cigarettes. These devices don’t just pose risks in landfills — they can ignite in your home, your pocket, or your classroom.

Beyond fire hazards, research shows that vaping devices often contain heavy metals like lead and mercury, as well as toxic flame retardants, which can leach into soil and groundwater when discarded improperly.

Safety Starts with Simple Steps

To prevent fires and contamination:

• Only purchase certified and reputable vaping devices.

• Charge safely — on a flat surface, unplug when full, and never overnight.

• Dispose properly at designated battery drop-off sites (find one via Battery Safety Now).

These lessons extend far beyond vaping. As lithium-ion batteries continue to power our classrooms, tools, and technologies, we must all treat them with the same respect we give to any potential hazard — through awareness, training, and responsible disposal.

At Kevin Doyle Consulting, we help schools and organizations build safer systems to manage the power sources of our modern world.

🧯 When in doubt, get out!