Request
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.
Response
1 & 2. Recorded Fires (Lithium-ion Batteries and Vapes) We can confirm that the North London Waste Authority (NLWA) holds information regarding fire incidents at our facilities. However, we do not hold data in a format that isolates fire incidents specifically attributed to vapes or vape-related lithium-ion batteries before 2025
For the 2025 calendar year, we can confirm there were 3 incidents where the suspected cause was recorded as vape-related.
3, 4, 5 Quantities, Rejected Loads, and Costs Regarding your request for a breakdown of specific quantities, rejected loads, and costs, the Authority does not hold a pre-existing dataset that isolates these figures specifically for vapes or e-waste disposal.
To generate these specific statistics, the Authority would be required to retrospectively review and manually investigate individual fire logs, facility records, and weigh-bridge data over the requested period. Under Section 1(4) of the FOIA and related ICO guidance, public authorities are not required to create new information or conduct bespoke analysis of raw records to fulfil a request.
Furthermore, we estimate that the time required to locate, retrieve, and extract this data would exceed the appropriate cost limit of £450 (equivalent to 18 hours of work) as defined under Section 12 of the FOIA. Therefore, we are unable to provide the bespoke dataset requested.
6. Quantity of vapes collected Properly as E-waste
We collected 6 tonnes of vapes, equivalent to 287,619 individual disposable vapes diverted from litter, street, and kerbside bins. This represents seven times the estimated number collected in 2024–25. These vapes were received at Recycling and Recovery Centres (RRCs) following delivery by residents.
If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you may ask for an internal review, which should be submitted within two months of when you received our response to either informationrequests@nlwa.gov.uk or via our enquiry form quoting the reference above.
If you are not content with the outcome of the review, you may complain to the Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.
Kind regards,
North London Waste Authority
