Fire crews have been called to 157 vape-related fires across Stockport and Greater Manchester since 2020, a new study has revealed.

In 2024 alone, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) were called to 59 vape-related fires in 2024, the highest in the UK.

The top causes included careless handling and incorrect disposal.

Around 5.6 million people in the UK use vapes, and an estimated 8.2 million disposable vapes are thrown away every week.

There's a risk of fire when vapes are disposed of incorrectly. Disposable vapes contain lithium batteries, which can get damaged and explode if they end up in the wrong bin.

The study was carried out by Electric Tobacconist, with researchers sending out freedom of information requests to all 49 fire services across the UK.

(Image - Alexander Greensmith)

Pascal Culverhouse, managing director at Electric Tobacconist, explained why vapes can't be placed in the 'normal' bin: "The key reason that vapes should not be placed with your other household waste is that they contain lithium batteries", he said.

"Whilst many reusable vapes allow you to remove the lithium battery to recycle this separately, disposable vapes have the lithium battery inside the enclosed casing making it very difficult to remove.

"With any lithium batteries, or electricals containing lithium batteries, there is a serious fire risk if they are placed in your normal household bins or recycling.

"Lithium batteries can explode and catch fire if they are damaged, so it is always the safest option to follow your city's guidance on vape recycling. UK residents can access tools such as Recycle Your Electricals to find their nearest donation or recycling point."

It comes not long after a separate study by Haypp found that Stockport was one of the most 'vape-obsessed' locations in the UK - this study was based on factors such as the amount of vape shops, and the amount of vape-related searches.

A ban on single-use vapes comes into effect in the UK from 1 June 2025 (Image - Unsplash)

Stockport was found to have around 26 vape shops per 100,000 residents.

It also had a high-number of vape-related search terms per month, with 388 searches per 100,000 residents.

A ban on single-use vapes comes into effect from 1 June.

The ban covers all single-use vapes and aims to improve children's health and reduce the environmental impact of discarded disposable vapes.

With the disposable vape ban looming, Markus Lindblad, head of external affairs at Haypp commented: "The upcoming ban is set to affect one in seven young adults in the UK and one in 20 adults overall.

"While it may feel overwhelming for those who rely on disposable vapes, this change also opens up the opportunity to explore more sustainable options.

"Switching to reusable vape kits, for example, will not only reduce waste but also provide a more customised experience when it comes to flavours and nicotine strengths."

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