The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) has applauded the announcement that disposable vapes will be banned from June, and called for lessons to be learned.
Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh announced the ban on disposable vapes yesterday (24 October), describing the decision as the “first step on the road to a circular economy”.
CIWM applauded Creagh, the UK Government, and the Devolved Administrations for what it called the “timely and entirely sensible commitment to ban disposable vapes as soon as practicable”.
As a society we must quickly learn the lessons of such poor product design and short-term thinking…
“Disposable vapes are a clear example of a poorly designed product manufactured and sold with only short-term profit in mind, marketed at children and adults alike, and with little evident social or environmental responsibility shown by producers, retailers or importers,” CIWM said in a statement.
“These non-recyclable single-use products are simply wasteful and harmful to people and planet.
“They create litter, degrading our streets and local environments and costing local authorities millions of pounds to clean up, they cause fires in waste streams putting industry workers’ health and safety at risk, and they waste valuable and critical raw materials such as lithium and copper due to their very poor design.
“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.”
Vaping industry reaction
The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has called the ban “counterproductive” and claimed the legislation could increase the sale of illegal vapes.
John Dunne, Director General of the UKVIA, said: “We have not shied away from the fact that the environmental impact and youth vaping challenges associated with disposables need to be addressed head on.
“Bans are not the answer as we’ve seen in other parts of the world, such as Australia, as they will only boost the black market which will pose significant risks to young people and the environment.
“What’s needed is greater enforcement of current laws in place which make it a legal requirement for vape traders not to sell to children under the age of 18 and to comply with environmental legislation such as the WEEE regulations.”
Industry and local authorities react positively
Dr Adam Read MBE, Chief Sustainability and External Affairs Officer at SUEZ recycling and recovery UK, welcomed the announcement.
“Disposable vapes are an increasing problem in SUEZ’s waste facilities across the country, with millions thrown away every year presenting a major fire risk,” Read said.
“When they are thrown away with the general rubbish, or mixed with other recycling, the batteries in disposable vapes can cause serious fires once collected, which poses a significant threat to workers at waste management sites.
“The ban is a positive step which will protect workers, help reduce the UK’s growing electrical waste problem and lessen our impact on the environment.”
Disposable vapes are an increasing problem in SUEZ’s waste facilities across the country…
Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board said he is delighted the government has listened to its longstanding concerns around disposable vapes.
“Single-use vapes blight our streets as litter, are a hazard in our bin lorries, and are expensive and difficult to deal with in our recycling centres,” Fothergill said.
“Their colours, flavours and advertising are appealing to children and are a risk to the health of young people.
“We look forward to working with the government and others to enforce this ban as well as ensure plans for a smokefree generation are a success.”
Amy Brettell, Managing Director at Zurich Municipal, commented: “We welcome the news to ban single-use vapes in England from June 2025, which is something we have been calling for recently.
“These devices have been closely associated with a rise in youth vaping in schools with our research showing that a shocking one in seven children have been caught vaping, with around half of these being under 11 years old.
“The actual devices may also be a walking fire risk. Just recently we analysed fire data, and it shows that fire services have tackled 241 incidents caused by vapes in the last year alone, this has more than doubled in just two years.
“We hope this ban is a significant step towards deterring young people from using these devices and also preventing fires.”
Environmental campaigners respond
Libby Peake, head of resources at Green Alliance, said: “Disposable vapes are the last thing our children and the planet need, and for too long the market for them has been allowed to grow unchecked.
“Every single one wastes resources that are critical to a more sustainable economy – like lithium, needed for the batteries that power electric cars.
“The government is right to ban these harmful devices – it’s a welcome step in the journey towards an economy where waste is reduced by design.”
Climate activist and environmental scientist Less Waste Laura said: “Disposable vapes exploded on to the market, becoming perhaps the first mainstream disposable electronic device to litter our streets, and reflecting the relentless evolution of the tobacco industry.
“The UK Government’s action to ban these single-use products in 2025 is a welcome, and crucial, step.
“The ban isn’t just about cutting littered vapes; it challenges the broader rise in disposable technology driving a concerning larger increase in electronic waste, with its associated fire risk, and use of scarce materials.”
