“Skip The Bin, Turn Your Batteries In:” The Vape Pen Hazards to Stormwater

Jan 8

Written By Clinton River Watershed Council

Intro to Vape Pens

A little-known contaminate of stormwater is vape pens. Similar to cell phones and laptops, vape pens use lithium-ion batteries. These batteries charge faster, are lighter, and last longer than acid-based batteries.

The Issue

According to a National Health Interview Survey, the use of vapes increased from 4.5% of adults in 2019 to 6.5% in 2023. While these statistics have fluctuated, the presence of vapes in the waste streams is noticeable.

There is a common misconception that vapes are disposable since many are made without a rechargeable aspect and are labeled as single use or disposable. However, all vapes are categorized as hazardous waste and should be disposed of properly.

The Hazard

When lithium-ion batteries are crushed, punctured, short-circuited, or overheated, they catch fire, explode, or release chemical byproducts. This can be a particular problem when these batteries are improperly disposed of in landfills.

Lithium-ion batteries burn hot and fast. A typical fire takes about three minutes to become untenable (cannot be contained), lithium-ion batteries become untenable within 20 seconds. These fires burn at 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit and are difficult to put out. Fire Rover, a fire suppression company, recorded 2,910 fires in 2024 caused by lithium-ion batteries, an increase of 60% from 2023. This makes lithium-ion batteries the current leading cause of landfill fires.

While these data include batteries from computers, e-bikes, cars and other lithium-ion batteries, small and undetectable vape batteries result in what Fire Rover calls the “Vape Effect.” Landfill fires can burn for hours or even days. Every fire can cause heavy metals like mercury, lead, copper, and nickel to leach into the soil, entering the water table and surface water. Toxic smoke also enters the atmosphere and comes back to the ground into stormwater during precipitation events.

Garbage and recycling trucks also experience explosions and fires. When this occurs, staff immediately dump the contents of the truck on the street to avoid damage to the truck or injury to workers. In some cases, these fires can spread or cause explosions by igniting other lithium-ion batteries and flammables in the truck. When the fire is put out with water, the trash and pollutant-filled water runs off into storm drains located on roads. These storm drains discharge directly to streams and rivers.

Improper storage, handling, or charging of vapes can also lead to residential and commercial fires.

In the United Kingdom, the issue resulted in an all-out ban on single use vapes. Currently, the United States relies on public education about proper disposal to address the problem. Remember the phrase "Skip the Bin, Turn Your Batteries In."

Best Management Practices for Vape Owners

To avoid vape hazards, follow these recommendations and required disposal procedures:

Use vape devices with safety features.
Keep loose batteries in a case to prevent contact with metal items such as coins or keys.
Never charge your vape device with a phone or tablet charger.
Don't charge your vape device overnight.
Charge your device on a hard surface.
Replace the batteries if they get damaged or wet.
Store in dry, cool locations.

Options for Disposal

These locations can properly dispose of batteries:

Businesses