The sale of disposable vapes will be banned in the United Kingdom from Sunday, as the country becomes the latest to tackle the “environmental nightmare” of the single-use devices. However, some campaigners warn that the new restrictions are just “a drop in the ocean” in the war against plastic waste.
The ban positions the UK among the first countries in Europe to legislate against disposable vapes, following similar moves in France and Belgium.
An estimated 8.2 million disposable vapes – the equivalent of 13 every second – are discarded in the UK every week, according to an analysis released by environmental group Material Focus in December.
In official guidance, the UK government described the disposable vapes as “eyesores,” and said their widespread disposal has “a hugely damaging impact on our environment and wildlife.” The plastics used in disposable vape products are “nearly impossible for nature to completely break down,” it added.
Improperly discarded batteries can ignite rubbish trucks and waste facilities, it added, with Material Focus linking such incidents to around 1,200 fires between May 2023 and May 2024.
“The ban will also help curb the rise in youth vaping,” the government said. “Over half of children who use vapes report that ‘disposable’ models are their product of choice.”
The legislation will not criminalize possession of disposable vapes. Instead, it targets retailers and distributors, who could face initial penalty fines of £200 ($270) for violations after Sunday. For continued breaches of the new law, an offender could be hit with further fines or a prison sentence.
For those already tackling the environmental fallout, the ban is long overdue.
“Vape producers are being infinitely creative with their products in order to avoid the forthcoming disposable vape ban,” he added.
Anticipating the shift, major vape manufacturers began adapting their product lines ahead of the legislation coming into force.
But, on the ground, one London retailer warned that consumer habits may prove harder to shift.
“The new vapes are also more expensive, which is more difficult for customers,” he added.
Ahead of the ban coming into force, John Dunne, director general of the UK Vaping Industry Association, said in a statement: “We’ve always maintained that bans are not the answer to the issues linked to the vaping industry, but enforcement of the laws that are already in place to protect children and the environment.” He warned that the measure could lead to a increase in vapers returning to cigarette smoking and create a black market for disposable products.
Vape use has surged in recent years. An estimated 5.6 million people vape in the UK, according to a survey carried out by public health charity Action on Smoking and Health last year.
Disposable vapes have proved popular among young adults trying to quit smoking, but their sleek design, bright packaging and sweet flavors have also appealed to teenagers. Almost 1 in 10 secondary school pupils in the UK vape “frequently,” according to a National Heath Service survey published in October, and a quarter of 11- to 15-year-olds have tried vaping.
“I would just put them in the bin, it didn’t feel like the right way,” said 17-year-old Brighton student Eaben Kusik. “It felt a bit wasteful throwing (away) the battery with the vape after three days.
“At first I thought, ‘I don’t like the government banning things,’ but I think it’s a good thing,” he added.
For environmental organization Greenpeace UK, the move marks progress – but not nearly enough.
A separate Tobacco and Vapes Bill, currently making its way through parliament, would give ministers power to further restrict vape packaging, flavors, and marketing – particularly those seen as targeting children.