Don't Fall for the Safety Myth of Vaping & E Cigarettes E cigarettes or vapes are sold with either single use batteries or lithium ion rechargeable batteries. When vapes get crushed in general waste or mixed recycling, the batteries can spark. That spark becomes a fire. are e cigarettes unsafe? SiOWfa15: Science in Our World: Certainty and Controversy INFOGRAPHIC: How Dangerous Are E Cigarette Ingredients?