Vape disposal mishap leads to blaze at Wiltshire recycling centre
Officials urge caution following vape-related fire in Warminster
A fire at a recycling centre in Warminster, Wiltshire, may have been sparked by a discarded vape, according to officials.
The blaze erupted on 1st June at the Furnax Lane facility, sending plumes of thick black smoke over the Bath Road area of the town, prompting residents to shut their windows and doors.
Firefighters from Warminster and Westbury were on the scene for over an hour, handling the fire that possibly originated from a “small battery or vape,” Wiltshire Council announced this week.
This coincides with a call from the Local Government Association (LGA) to tighten legislation surrounding single-use vapes, which have been banned since 1st June 2025.
Despite a decrease from 8.2 million vapes discarded weekly, the LGA reports six million units are still being thrown out annually, contributing to fires at waste centres due to lithium-ion batteries igniting when crushed.
Cllr Dr Wendy Taylor MBE, chair of the LGA’s health and wellbeing committee, highlighted the financial strain of contaminated recycling and fires on councils.
Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for environment, Cllr Paul Sample, emphasised the fire risk posed by improperly disposed vapes containing lithium-ion batteries.
Sample advised against binning vapes, recommending specialised collections or returning them to retailers.
These safe disposal methods are crucial in preventing fires and protecting waste workers.