Vape recycling collections to tackle fire threat

Durham County Council will begin weekly vape collections in the spring of 2026

Vapes and batteries will be collected weekly by a local authority in a bid to cut fires in waste collection vehicles.

Durham County Council said it will pick up the items alongside its weekly food waste collections which are due to begin in the spring.

Residents will be asked to put the batteries and vapes in a separate bag next to their food waste caddies as part of the year-long recycling trial.

The council's environment head James Gilchrist said there had been 14 fires in the authority's waste vehicles since 2024 which had been caused by batteries and other materials igniting when crushed.

The batteries and vapes will be kept in a separate fire safe compartment when picked up by the council's trucks.

"This service will complement the collection points we already have at our Household Waste Recycling Centres and at 169 community centres," Gilchrist said.

He warned that batteries and vapes should never be put in general waste or recycling bins due to the fire risk.