Disposable vapes to be banned in England

Disposable vapes will be banned from sale in England next summer, the government has confirmed. The new legislation is set to be enforced from June 2025.

The ban is part of the government’s commitment to end the nation’s throwaway culture and stop the avalanche of rubbish that is filling up our high streets, countryside and oceans.

The Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Andrew Gwynne, said: “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.

“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.”
It is estimated that almost 5m disposable vapes were littered or thrown in general waste every week within the UK. The vapes that are being recycled take a long time to be disassembled as it has to be done by hand, which makes it almost impossible to keep up with the pace they are being produced at.
The climate activist and environmental scientist known as Less Waste Laura added: “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.”

Vape usage in England grew by more than 400% between 2012 and 2023, with 9.1% of the British public now buying and using these products. The rise in use began around 2021, as prior to this they were mostly used as a healthier alternative to smoking cigarettes and were targeted to an older market. The long-term health impacts of vaping are unknown, and the nicotine contained within them can be highly addictive, with withdrawal sometimes causing anxiety, trouble concentrating and headaches.