Expert's stark danger warning as people stockpile vapes being flogged for 29p

A VAPE BAN IS SET TO TAKE PLACE SOON WITH ALL DISPOSABLE VAPES BEING BANNED IN THE UK, WITH SEVERAL SHOPS NOT FLOGGING THEM FOR 29P TO SHIFT THEIR STOCK – BUT IT COMES WITH A RISK 15:00, 31

May 2025Updated 15:03, 31 May 2025 An expert has warned of the dangers of stockpiling disposable vapes, which are now being flogged for 29p – cheaper than a Cadbury's Freddo. From

Sunday (June 1) a new ban will be put in place on all single-use or disposable vapes, and it will be illegal for any business to sell or supply, or have them in their possession for sale.

However, worries of new dangers have emerged after vapers load up before the ban comes into place. Online nicotine retailer Haypp said 82% of the 369 customers they surveyed plan to bulk

purchase the vapes before they are no longer available. An expert has sent a warning about one element of a vape which could lead to serious danger – lithium batteries. Cllr David

Fothergill, chairman of the LGA's Community Wellbeing Board, said: "Failing to store disposable vapes correctly could cost lives, given the significant fire risk they pose."

There has been a proven increase in vape related fires - from 89 in 2020 to 399 in 2024. Many disposable vapes use cheap lithium-ion batteries, to keep the costs down. These batteries often

lack proper safety features, like thermal cut offs, making them more prone to catching fire due to overheating risks. If the battery overheats in any way it can cause something dubbed a

thermal runaway - a chain reaction where the battery's temperature increases quickly, causing it to overheat uncontrollably. Then, a fire catches and is incredibly difficult to put out.

Using water alone can actually make things worse if the battery is still generating heat. Sometimes they require specialised fire suppressants from the fire service to put them out.

Batteries can then re-ignite hours, or even days later, making them a persistent hazard. There were 1,056 vape-related fires across the UK between 2020 and 2024, with a notable increase from

89 incidents in 2020 to 399 in 2024. This is roughly equivalent to one fire every other day during that period, according to the BBC. Disposable vapes are also a huge hazard for waste and

litter collection and cause fires in bin lorries. Customers have been warned not to throw them away in household waste when they purchase the disposable vapes, but this apparently is not

always noted. They are almost impossible to recycle because they are designed as one unit so the batteries cannot be separated from plastic. Some 8.2 million units were thrown away, or

recycled incorrectly, every week prior to the ban. Article continues below _FOR THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS AND STORIES FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE FROM THE DAILY STAR, SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTERS._