Disposable vapes to be banned by 1st June 2025

Health, waste and enforcement organisations welcome the Government’s decision to proceed with a ban on the sale of disposable vapes from the 1st June next year. Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), Material Focus and Chartered Trading Standards Institute have worked collaboratively to raise concerns about the impact of these single-use products on the environment and their links to the increase in teen vaping.

The ban confirmed today is unlikely on its own to be sufficient in addressing these issues; but is a welcome indication of the Government’s intention to address the problems in the vaping market and is backed by the public with 77% supporting the measure.

Hazel Cheeseman, Chief Executive, Action on Smoking and Health said:
“When there is a viable alternative to disposable products the Government is right to push ahead with this ban. The public are fed up of seeing disposable vapes littered across our communities and the proposed regulations are already driving changes in the market with more reusable versions of popular disposable brands being sold.

"However, while the ban is an important show of intention from the government, without further product and branding regulations this ban will be insufficient to address the popularity of vapes among teenagers. The Government must introduce the proposed Tobacco and Vapes Bill swiftly.”

So-called disposable or single use vapes have also posed a major waste problem with products not being disposed of correctly and too few being recycled. Waste from vapes would also be reduced if more people switch to reusable products. However, more must be done to ensure producers take responsibility for the environmental impact of their products and ensure recycling happens.

Scott Butler, Executive Director of Material Focus, said:
“When a disposable vape ban comes in, vapes still do need a special category under environmental regulations, which would allow the government to set clear collection targets and can only help in the move to get those profiting from vapes to cover the costs of dealing with them. Too many companies are currently dodging their share of £200 million/year responsibility for collection and recycling.

“In our research 5 million single-use vapes are currently binned or littered every week in the UK creating a staggering amount of waste. 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. For those that vape, they should never bin them, or any electrical item, and instead take them back to where they bought them from. And if that retailer refuses, go to your next retailer or go to the recycle your electricals postcode locator to find the nearest place to recycle.”

Trading standards officers will be enforcing the disposable vapes ban.

Kate Pike, Chartered Trading Standards Institute, said:
“The regulations will give trading standards the powers to ensure retailers comply with the law. Additional funding to resource these new powers will also be necessary and we look forward to the outcome of the spending review and confirmation that this funding will be available.”

The Mental Health and Smoking Partnership is a coalition of public health and mental health charities working to reduce the much higher rates of smoking among people with mental health conditions. While they welcome the ban they say that mental health services and their patients may need additional support to transition away from disposable products.

Chair of the Partnership and Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation, Mark Rowland, said:
“We welcome action to curb youth vaping and address environmental concerns but the most vulnerable groups of smokers must not be forgotten. Smokers with mental health conditions are more likely to be using disposable vapes currently and many inpatient mental health setting will only allow disposable vapes to be used. The NHS needs to support trusts and patients to transition to reusable products and ensure more people are supported to stop smoking.”

ENDS

Notes to the Editor
Action on Smoking and Health is a health charity working to eliminate the harm caused by tobacco use. For more information see: ash.org.uk. ASH receives funding for its programme of work from Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation.