UK to Ban Single-Use Vapes Starting June 2025

The UK government has laid new legislation in Parliament to ban the sale and supply of single-use vapes in England starting from 1 June 2025, Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh announced today. The move aims to address the growing problem of vape-related litter, protect young people from nicotine addiction, and push the nation towards a circular economy.

Single-use vapes, which are not rechargeable or refillable, often end up in general waste bins or as litter on streets, contributing to a rising tide of waste. Even when sent to recycling facilities, they require manual disassembly, a slow and challenging process that struggles to keep pace with the rapid production of these devices. The lithium-ion batteries in single-use vapes also pose a fire risk to waste industry workers.

Alarming Statistics Highlight the Need for Action

Materials Focus estimated that in 2022, nearly five million single-use vapes were littered or discarded in general waste every week in the UK, a fourfold increase from the previous year, equivalent to eight vapes being thrown away every second. They also found that more than 40 tonnes of lithium from single-use vapes was discarded in 2022, an amount sufficient to power 5,000 electric vehicles.

Vape usage in England has skyrocketed by over 400% between 2012 and 2023, with 9.1% of the British public now using these products. The long-term health impacts of vaping remain unknown, and the nicotine in these devices can be highly addictive, causing withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, trouble concentrating, and headaches.

Government Officials and Experts Weigh In

Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh emphasized the wastefulness of single-use vapes and their negative impact on towns and cities. She stated, "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."

Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Andrew Gwynne, expressed deep concern about the growing use of vapes among young people, with a quarter of 11-15-year-olds using a vape last year. He highlighted that banning disposable vapes will protect the environment and reduce their appeal to children, keeping them out of the hands of vulnerable youth.

The public strongly supports the restriction of single-use vape sales, with 69% of consultation respondents backing these proposals in February 2024.

Environmental Impact and Waste Reduction

Banning single-use vapes will prevent them from ending up in landfills or being incinerated, reducing the fire risk posed by their lithium-ion batteries and the potential for poor air quality. It will also stop plastic, lead, and mercury from leaching into the environment, preventing contamination of waterways and harm to wildlife.

Libby Peake, head of resources at Green Alliance, praised the government's decision, stating that disposable vapes waste critical resources needed for a more sustainable economy, such as lithium for electric car batteries. She emphasized the harmful effects of littered vapes and the fire risk they pose even when disposed of in bins.

Challenging the Rise of Disposable Technology

Climate activist and environmental scientist, Less Waste Laura, welcomed the ban as a crucial step in challenging the broader rise in disposable technology driving an increase in electronic waste and the use of scarce materials. She also sees the ban as essential to breaking the grip of vaping on youth and challenging the throwaway culture threatening the planet.

The ban on single-use vapes is part of the government's commitment to end the nation's throwaway culture and stop the avalanche of rubbish filling up high streets, countryside, and oceans. The Environment Secretary has made it one of his five core priorities to move towards a future where resources are kept in use for longer, accelerating the path to net zero and increasing investment in critical infrastructure and green jobs.