E-waste recyclers are calling on the government to introduce deposits on disposable vapes to stop them ending up in household waste and causing fires.

Vapes contain batteries which can ignite, posing a risk for workers on rubbish collection vehicles and waste and recycling plants, electrical goods sector umbrella organisation Open, which promotes e-waste recycling, said.

“We get more reports of fires in rubbish vans and waste processing locations caused by the batteries in vapes. What is more, scarce resources such as lithium and copper cannot be reused if the vapes are thrown out with ordinary waste,” spokesman Jan Vlak told RTL Nieuws.

Collection points for vapes have already been established at supermarkets, vape sellers and DIY stores but according to the waste sector, some 20,000 vapes a day, or seven million a year, still end up in household waste.

However, there is no obligation for sellers to take back empty vapes. “From January 1, vapes can only be sold by registered shops. We are asking the government to make those shops legally responsible for collecting them as well,” Vlak said.

The sector also said the government should do more to prevent the import of illegal vapes, of which between 20 and 40 million enter the country each year.

D66 has said it would support a deposit system for vapes. “Vaping is becoming more popular every year, especially among children. It is not only a danger to them but also to workers who are being exposed to exploding vapes and that is unacceptable,” MP Mpanzu Bamenga said.

Discarded vapes are not the only hazard for waste collectors and plants. Nitrous oxide canisters no longer carry deposits and are also ending up in household waste.

Exploding canisters are putting workers at risk and causing up to €150 million in damage a year, the Telegraaf said earlier this year. So far campaigns to convince people to hand in the canisters have not been effective.