The sale of disposable vapes will be banned from June next year, as part of the “first step” on the road towards a circular economy, the UK Government has announced.
The ban was first announced in January by the previous government but not implemented before the General Election.
Ministers say the ban on disposable vapes is needed to protect the environment and reduce the product’s appeal to children.
Similar bans are expected from the devolved governments in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, but a timeline has not been confirmed yet.
The UK Vaping Industry Association has called the ban “counterproductive”, claiming the legislation could increase the sale of illegal vapes.
As a society we must quickly learn the lessons of such poor product design and short-term thinking.
Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh said: “Single-use vapes are extremely wasteful and blight our towns and cities.
“That is why we are banning single-use vapes as we end this nation’s throwaway culture.
“This is the first step on the road to a circular economy, where we use resources for longer, reduce waste, accelerate the path to net zero and create thousands of jobs across the country.”
The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) applauded the announcement, calling disposable vapes a “poorly designed product” manufactured with only short-term profit in mind.
“As a society we must quickly learn the lessons of such poor product design and short-term thinking, as we move towards a more circular economy and a world beyond waste,” CIWM said.
Five million disposable vapes thrown away per week
Five million single-use vapes were thrown away every week in 2023, according to research from Material Focus, a four-fold increase from 2022.
The potential yearly cost of collecting and recycling these vapes is £200 million.
Scott Butler, Executive Director at Material Focus, has said vapes need a special category under environmental regulations even after a ban comes in.
Butler said this would allow the UK Government to set clear collection targets and ensure vape producers cover the disposal costs of their products.
CIWM said disposable vapes strengthen the case for Extended Producer Responsibility to ensure producers are responsible for the true cost of putting huge volumes of these products on the market.
Too many companies are currently dodging their share of £200 million/year responsibility for collection and recycling.
Over 90% of vape producers and retailers in the UK are failing to meet environmental regulations.
Material Focus has also warned that vape producers are bringing new products to market, such as “rechargeable disposable”, at a similar price point to disposable vapes that “skirt” around regulations.
“Too many companies are currently dodging their share of £200 million/year responsibility for collection and recycling,” he said.
“With the ban due to come into place, this means 150 million vapes will be thrown away, losing all the precious materials contained in vapes forever such as lithium and posing fire risks.”
Batteries have been identified as the cause of hundreds of fires in waste trucks and sites, according to a survey of 60 local authorities.
Health impacts
Scientists estimate one million adults in England, mostly young adults between 18-24, have started vaping despite never having been regular smokers.
The NHS says nicotine vaping is “substantially less harmful” than smoking and one of the most effective tools for quitting smoking.
However, it only recommends vaping for adult smokers to support quitting cigarettes as it is not completely harmless and the risks of long-term use are not known.
Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Andrew Gwynne, said: “It’s deeply worrying that a quarter of 11-15-year-olds used a vape last year and we know disposables are the product of choice for the majority of kids vaping today.
“Banning disposable vapes will not only protect the environment but importantly reduce the appeal of vapes to children and keep them out of the hands of vulnerable young people.”
