Austrian Waste Management Group Demands Disposable Vape Ban
VOEB Points to Lithium Battery Dangers and International Precedents
The Association of Austrian Waste Management Companies (VOEB) is urgently calling for a nationwide ban on the sale of disposable e-cigarettes (vapes), citing significant fire hazards posed by improperly discarded lithium batteries.
VOEB highlights the increasing number of fires in waste facilities caused by these batteries, which can ignite easily upon impact or friction. Disposable vapes frequently end up in general waste instead of designated collection points, exacerbating the risk. The association pointed to the devastating fire that destroyed the Feldkirch Waste Collection Center about a year ago, believed to have been caused by such batteries, as a stark warning.
VOEB President Gabriele Jüly labelled carelessly discarded disposable vapes as “dangerous environmental offenders” that threaten the existence of waste management companies, despite heavy investments in fire protection. She noted that Belgium and France have already implemented bans, with the UK set to follow in June 2025.
The VOEB urges the Austrian federal government to amend the Tobacco and Nicotine Addiction Act to include a similar ban, framing it as a crucial step for environmental protection, resource conservation, and ensuring a safer waste disposal infrastructure.
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