Number of fires due to improper disposal of vapes
Received 23 April 2026
For the period 1 June 2023 to the most recently recorded date, please provide the following, preferably with a monthly breakdown and in CSV/Excel format:
1. The total number of recorded fires at any site or during any stage of waste collection or processing involving lithium-ion batteries.
2. Of those, and if recorded, the number for which the suspected or recorded cause was vapes (of any type).
3. The quantity of vapes (of any type) or vape batteries found improperly disposed of in collected waste.
4. The total number of loads rejected, quarantined, or diverted because of improper e-waste disposal and, if held, the proportion of which is specifically attributed to vapes.
5. The total cost of improper e-waste disposal and, if held, the proportion of which is specifically attributed to vapes.
6. The quantity of vapes (of any type) collected properly as e-waste.
Responded 18 May 2026
The household recycling centres in the district are run by Cambridgeshire County Council.
1. We do not hold this information. We have had one vehicle fire and whilst suspected it was caused by a battery; it was not confirmed.
2. As above
3. We do not record this information.
4. 0
5. We do not record this information.
6. We do not provide a separate collection for this type of waste currently
The Council considers that the requested information falls within the Environmental Information Regulations (“EIR”), which relate to information on activities affecting or likely to affect the elements and factors of the environment.
In respect of those requests that were answered in full or partially and the total refused please take this as notice under FOIA, that we:
a) Consider the information as exempt from disclosure under the Act;
b) Claim exempt under sections of the Act:
Section 12(4)(a) – Information Not Held
c) State why the exemption applies:
Regulation 12 (4) a public authority may refuse to disclose information to the extent that (a) it does not hold that information when an applicant’s request is received.