As a huge fire engulfed a vape shop in Glasgow and neighbouring buildings in Union Street over the weekend, WEEE waste experts at BusinessWaste.co.uk are once again reminding retailers about the dangers of vape-related fires and urging them to provide take-back schemes.
The fire from the vape shop also spread on Union Street through the B-listed Victorian building on Sunday night, leaving it in ruins. The remaining section of a historic Glasgow building wrecked by a fire is to be demolished.
In a statement, the local authority said: "We are now in control of the Union Street site, and after a full and final assessment of the remaining structure, has decided that demolition must happen in the interests of public safety.
"Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are still on site to take care of remaining hot spots."
Disposable vapes were banned on the 1st June 2025, but reports show that fires from the incorrect disposal of vapes remain a huge issue.
In December, a waste management site operator told the BBC that they still encounter more than one fire a day.
What compliance do businesses need to follow when selling vapes?
All retailers face a fine of £200 if they continue to sell disposable vapes now that the ban is in effect, with the possibility of further prosecution for repeat offences.
However, retailers face a much bigger fine for failing to provide a takeback scheme. Any retailers who sell £100,000 of electrical goods per year, whether that’s in-store or online, must provide a takeback scheme to dispose of WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment). Vapes fall under this category.
If you sell less than £100,000 worth of electrical goods per year, you can choose to pay a fee and join the DTS (Distributor Take Back Scheme) instead of offering in-store collection. This scheme allows businesses to pay a fee that covers any WEEE obligations until 31 December 2026.
The money then goes towards supporting the recycling centres run by local authorities. It requires businesses to keep a record of information given to customers about where they should take their WEEE.
Any businesses that fail to adhere to these rules risk fines of £5,000, or an unlimited fine from a crown court for the worst offenders.2
Why should you offer a takeback scheme?
Many customers mistakenly believe that vapes can be tossed into their regular bin at home, but they’re actually classed as WEEE, which has strict rules for disposal. When vapes are disposed of in household bins, they can lead to fires in bin trucks and at waste management sites, posing a huge risk to workers and the public.
Vapes contain lithium-ion batteries that can overheat and ignite when damaged or crushed. If vapes enter bin lorries or waste management facilities, this is common because waste is compressed.
Alongside this, any vapes that end up in landfill can leach battery acid, nicotine, and chemicals from the plastic into the environment, causing further damage.
It’s therefore vital that businesses offer a takeback scheme to comply with the law and protect waste workers and the environment.
Mark Hall, WEEE expert at BusinessWaste.co.uk, comments, "While we are yet to hear what caused the large fire in Glasgow at the weekend, it serves as a poignant reminder of the fire hazards associated with vapes.
"The ban on disposable vapes was certainly a step in the right direction. While a reusable vape is still the preferred option, the lack of education on correct disposal means we’re likely to see vape-related bin and waste fires continue.
“With vapes technically classed as WEEE, we encourage retailers to inform customers about the correct disposal methods and either provide a takeback scheme or offer guidance in accordance with the DTS.”