Recycling centres across Essex have collected more than two tonnes of vape batteries since April 2025, and Canvey Island residents are being urged to use the Canvey Island Recycling Centre on Canvey Road to help prevent fires and recover valuable materials.
The Love Essex partnership and the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service are highlighting the county-wide milestone to warn about the dangers of discarding vapes in household bins. These lithium-ion cells can cause intense fires in bin lorries and at waste transfer sites if crushed by machinery; the waste industry and safety campaigns commonly refer to them as “zombie batteries” because of the hidden danger they pose.
Locals can take old vapes to the Canvey Island Recycling Centre (Canvey Road, SS8 0QX). The site accepts small electrical items (small WEEE) in dedicated bins so batteries are handled safely rather than ending up in residual waste where they could leak harmful substances or start fires.
According to Cllr Peter Schwier, Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment, Waste Reduction and Recycling at Essex County Council, the programme supports the county’s wider climate ambitions. “Supporting residents to recycle as much as possible, as easily as they can, is key to our ambition to achieve net zero carbon emissions for Essex by 2050,” he said.
The UK Government introduced a ban on the sale and supply of single‑use (disposable) vapes, which came into force on 1 June 2025, citing environmental harms and risks to young people’s health. Although these products can no longer be bought in shops, officials are asking residents to check their homes for any remaining units and bring them to appropriate collection points such as the Canvey recycling centre.
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