More than 180 fires at rubbish dumps have been caused by “zombie batteries” since a ban on disposable vapes came into force earlier this year, a leading operator has revealed. Biffa says more than 840,000 vapes were found in four of its biggest waste sites between June and September alone. The vapes’ batteries contain lithium-ion batteries which, if punctured, crushed or damaged can reach dangerously high temperatures and cause ferocious fires. They have been branded “zombie batteries” because,