Sadly it appears that the UK disposable vape ban has been confirmed. You can read the government press release here.

uk-vape-ban-confirmed

As there was a change in government since the ban was ban was announced in January 2024, it was a bit unsure as to whether the new Labour government would continue with this policy.

But yes – this has now been confirmed in England and Wales with an implementation date of 1st June 2025. This delay is to allow suppliers and retailers time to clear out their current stock.

“New legislation to ban the sale of single-use vapes from 1 June 2025 has been laid in Parliament, Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh confirmed today.

Single-use vapes are not rechargeable or refillable, and are typically discarded as general waste in a bin or littered, rather than recycled – contributing to a flood of litter on our streets. Even when they are sent to recycling facilities, they usually have to be disassembled by hand – a slow and difficult process which will struggle to keep up with the pace of vape production. Their lithium-ion batteries can also present a fire risk to waste industry workers.”

“Making the sale of single-use vapes illegal, delivers on the Government’s commitment to act on this important issue, and kick-starts the push towards a circular economy and helps to curb the rise of young people taking up vaping, while also protecting our natural environment and town streets from a tide of litter. “

At present only England and Wales have confirmed their plans – but Northern Ireland and Scotland are expected to follow suit.

“The Government has laid legislation to introduce the ban and, subject to parliamentary approval, businesses will have until 1 June 2025 to sell any remaining stock they hold and prepare for the ban coming into force. The UK Government and Devolved Governments have worked closely and will align coming into force dates.”

Andrew Gwynne (Public Health Minister) said:

“banning disposables would “reduce the appeal of vapes to children and keep them out of the hands of vulnerable young people”.

Table of Contents

My Thoughts On The Impact Of The Ban

Of course disposable (single use) vapes cause a lot of environmental concerns – I see discarded vapes daily when out walking. A report by Material Focus from 8th September 2023 states:

  • 7.7 million single-use vapes bought per week (double compared to 2022)
  • 5,000 electric vehicle batteries worth of lithium being thrown away per year
  • 33% of the 16-18 years olds that vape throw their vapes away in the bin at school or work and 40% would use recycling bins in schools/ their place of work
  • 76% of vapers say they would be more likely to recycle if vapes were marketed as ‘recyclable’

But this is an issue that is being addressed slowly but surely.

In fact today I parked at a local shop and saw this vape recycling bin outside! I was very impressed! The Spar shop in Leegomery Telford deserves a big high five!

disposable vape bin Telford

I do feel that disposable vapes are a very useful tool to help smokers switch to a safer nicotine delivery system.

Refillable and reusable vapes are great for those who can work them and who want to invest in buying a kit and e-liquid.

But for a casual vaper or a smoker looking to test if vaping is for them, disposable vapes are cheaper than cigarettes or tobacco. Plus just as an impulse buy they may help a smoker realise that vaping could help them on their journey to stop smoking with very little effort or outlay.

If the ease of a disposable vape is not available some people might just pick up that packet of tobacco or ciggies – missing an opportunity for them to try a safer nicotine option.

vape v cigarette

We cannot ignore those who may have issues working a reusable vape – for instance dexterity or sight issues may make refilling very challenging. Many smokers buy pre-rolled cigarettes in a packet which only require opening and lighting. A disposable vape is the equivalent in effort as you only unpack it and away you go. If someone rolls their own cigarettes they are more likely to feel comfortable with a reusable device.

Another HUGE issue is the illicit market which could explode when these devices are banned. Of course a ban on legal sales could drive a “Black Market” where the sellers are not checking ages of buyers. There are already age restriction laws in place, which sadly are not being effectively enforced. Trading Standards is the main agency who should be enforcing and policing the age restrictions but they are severely lacking resources and were under-prepared for the huge influx of illicit vapes.

Already before the ban, we are seeing a lot of illicit devices for sale. These can be fake products, unregulated products and devices that do not meet the UK TPD laws. Whilst devices which have higher capacity or nicotine strengths are not dangerous, there are some fake and poorly manufactured devices in circulation which could end up in the hands of the public. Dodgy vapes such as this could have unknown ingredients and the electrical safety could be dubious!

If you are worried about the authenticity of your vape we have a few guides to help you check:

What To Do Next If You Use Disposable Vapes

If you regularly use disposable vapes it is time to check out our best disposable vape alternative guide.

best dv alt

We will help guide you towards devices & e-liquids which will still be available after the ban and offer you the simplicity and flavour you are used to.

ske crystal 4 in 1 colours
SKE Crystal 4 in 1 reusable pod kit

This guide covers devices with pre-filled pods plus e-liquids designed by your favourite disposable vape manufacturers if you would like to go down the refillable route.

For instance Elf Bar, SKE Crystal, Lost Mary and other disposable vape manufacturers have released reusable devices or e-liquid ranges based on their most popular flavours.

elfliq straw rasp cherry ice

So please do not panic! Reusable vapes are not affected by the ban and as you can see above, you will still be able to experience your favourite disposable vape but in a more sustainable and less expensive way!

Responses

As you can imagine this has caused quite a lot of comment – so I will share some of the responses from the vaping industry, vape advocates and the public below.

New Nicotine Alliance

nna logo whiteLouise Ross, Chair of the New Nicotine Alliance, said…

“While we fully appreciate that the waste caused by single-use vapes is a serious issue, we are also concerned that a proportion of adults – those with dexterity issues, brain injury, mental ill-health, sight loss – rely on the simplicity of single use vapes.

They are also of interest to people who smoke and want to try a low-cost device to see if they like it. Many of the littered items are illicit devices, and a licensing scheme would help bring in stronger controls on the illicit market.”

World Vapers’ Alliance

wva press releasePress Release

Ban on Disposable Vapes: A Reckless Gift to the Illegal Market

London, 24.10.2024 – The World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA) criticises the UK government’s push to ban disposable vapes, calling it a misguided policy that threatens to undermine public health and disproportionately harm the most vulnerable.

Michael Landl, Director of the World Vapers’ Alliance, stated:

“Labour’s plan to ban disposable vapes is a reckless attack on harm reduction. This decision will hurt those who need help the most—current smokers looking for safer alternatives. By driving disposable vapes off the shelves, the government is handing the market over to illegal actors. It’s shocking that a Labour government, claiming to stand for the working class, is pushing a policy that will hit the poor hardest and make it harder for them to quit smoking.”

Research from UCL and King’s College London shows that banning disposable vapes could stall progress in reducing smoking rates in the UK. Such a ban may slow the decline in smoking prevalence, jeopardising the health of 2.6 million people who rely on vaping to stay off cigarettes.

“This policy is not just a step back—it’s a dangerous move that could push current vapers back to smoking or into the black market, undoing years of harm reduction efforts and widening health inequalities,” added Landl. “The government should be promoting harm reduction, not crushing it under the weight of misguided legislation.”

Totally Wicked

totally wicked logoPress Release

The government has confirmed that the sale of all disposable vapes will be banned in England from June next year, with similar bans expected to be introduced by devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Below, Liam Humberstone, Technical Director at Totally Wicked and a UK National expert for e-cigarette devices, shares his reaction to the confirmation of the ban, as well as his concerns on the impact it could have on ex-smokers and those trying to quit tobacco products:

“The confirmation of the ban coming into effect from next June does concern many within the vaping industry as disposable vapes specifically have been a key entry point for many smokers seeking an easy-to-use, effective alternative to cigarettes for a number of years.

“OHID (formerly Public Health England) has consistently reported that vaping is significantly less harmful than smoking, and disposable vapes have contributed to this positive public health outcome.

“That being said, we also recognise the growing concerns surrounding the use of disposable vapes by underage individuals, as well as the environmental issues linked to single-use products. We strongly believe that proper regulation, enforcement, and education are vital in addressing these concerns and protecting young people from accessing products that are not intended for them.

“While we understand the reasons behind the ban, it’s crucial to ensure that adult smokers continue to have access to safer alternatives to cigarettes. This ban will affect a proportion of smokers, and many recent ex-smokers, who rely on the convenience of disposable vapes. It will be essential for the industry and regulators to ensure that adult users have access to other vaping options that can support their quit-smoking efforts. The focus should now be on educating smokers about reusable and more sustainable vaping options, which are equally effective and more environmentally sustainable.

“Totally Wicked will continue to uphold our commitment to ethical and responsible business practices. We will work with regulators and industry partners to ensure that, in the transition away from disposable vapes, the needs of adult smokers are still met, and that vaping remains a viable tool for reducing harm from smoking. Our efforts will remain focused on enforcing strict age-verification standards and promoting safer alternatives to smoking while ensuring young people are protected.

“As the ban approaches in 2025, we encourage open dialogue between the government, industry, and public health bodies to ensure that any regulation prioritises public health outcomes and prevents unintended consequences for adult smokers who rely on vaping to quit smoking.”

Mark Oates – Director Of We Vape

wevape logoMark Oates, founder of campaign group We Vape, said:

“This decision is going to cost lives because disposable vapes are hugely popular with adults looking to make the switch from smoking.

“It will also have very little impact on children accessing vapes because the devices are already age restricted. What is needed is proper enforcement of the law against traders who are prepared to sell to minors and a vape licencing scheme for vape retailers, as is applied with alcohol, would ensure those selling illegal vapes or caught selling to children can be stripped of their licence.

“Instead, we are going to see an explosion in the black market for unregulated disposable vapes because removing a product does not remove its demand.

“The government is in danger of replicating the issues we see in Australia, where such a black market has led to violent turf wars in cities and suburbs.

“Littering concerns with disposable vapes could also be addressed with a deposit return scheme, so this decision will not solve the problems it is designed to fix.”


UKVIA

ukvia logoPress Release

Statement from UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA), following government announcement on disposable vapes ban.

Following the announcement that disposable vapes will be banned from June next year, the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has warned policy makers ahead of the Tobacco & Vapes Bill that it has to strike the right balance between introducing new vaping legislation and ensuring that it does not deter smokers from giving up by switching to considerably less harmful vapes.

Vaping and disposable vapes have made a huge contribution to bringing down smoking rates amongst adults to the lowest levels on record in recent years.

John Dunne, Director General of the UKVIA:

“We recognise that disposable vapes have divided opinion, but their accessibility and convenience, particularly amongst low income groups who are the most prevalent smokers, should not be forgotten and highlights the careful balancing act required in future legislation so that it does not penalise those adult smokers that want to give up by using vapes, which have been evidenced to be the most effective method in quitting cigarettes.

“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. Also, this announcement does nothing to stop the import of disposable vapes which means there is a ready supply entering the country which will make their way onto the black market.

“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. However, recent Freedom of Information requests sent to Trading Standards nationally, the Environmental Agency and Office for Product Safety and Standards shows extremely low levels of enforcement in terms of the penalties and prosecutions that would make rogue traders think twice about breaking the law.”

Added Dunne: “It’s why we have campaigned for a vape retailer and distributor licensing scheme. To qualify for a licence, retailers will need to show they have put measures in place to prevent the sale of vapes to minors. Distributors will also need to ensure they are meeting environmental obligations, as well as ensuring they only stock and sell compliant goods. As part of this scheme we are also calling for up to £10,000 and £100,000 fines for retailers and distributors respectively who break the law, and together with the money that the licensing scheme will raise – estimated to be £50m – this will be used to fund the level of enforcement that is required.”

IBVTA

ibvta logoPress Release

Oct 24, 2024 : Vape industry responds to disposable vape ban announcement.

The Independent British Vape Trade Association (IBVTA), the leading independent trade association for the UK vaping industry, welcomes clarity on the single use vapes ban first mooted by the previous Government. However it continues to reiterate concerns about unintended consequences, and any future regulations that may follow.

Much of the political and media narrative around the policy intent continues to concern reducing youth access to vapes. It must be noted that it is already illegal to sell vapes to anyone under 18, and proxy purchases are also banned. We hope the assumption that a ban on single use vapes will effectively remove them from circulation is justified, given the scale of the existing illicit market. Increased resources for national and local enforcement should be actioned immediately, not just when the ban comes into force.

Reputable businesses have spent considerable sums of money in meeting their waste and recycling obligations, and on encouraging substitution with less environmentally damaging products. However, there is now an onus on Government for increased enforcement to combat illicit products. This will not only ensure consumer safety, but also show a commitment to clear and compelling messaging that drives greater consumer behaviour change until the ban comes into force in June 2025.

Chair of the IBVTA, Marcus Saxton said:

“Single-use vapes, importantly, offer a level of convenience in use that has brought a large number of adult consumers from tobacco smoking to a less harmful alternative. The vape industry stands ready to work with government to ensure businesses can meet their obligations in time for the deadline announced today. The illicit trade in single use vapes has been the driver of both increased access by young people, and negative media headlines. We are therefore disappointed that today’s announcement does not include an importation ban.

“Banning an entire category of vapes is likely to fuel public misperceptions about the relative safety of vaping to smoking. Adults using single use disposable vapes outnumber those that are under 18 by several times. Consequently there needs to be clear messaging from government to encourage those adults not to simply revert to smoking.

“There has been some commentary and media attention wrongly accusing producers who develop refillable and rechargeable products of somehow “getting around a loophole in the regulations”. These accusations have no foundation, as post-ban, adult consumers will need as many refillable and rechargeable product options as possible.”

FRESH

fresh balance logoPress Release

Fresh statement on ban on single use vapes: 24th October 2024.

Fresh has responded to an announcement today that new legislation to protect the environment by banning the sale of single-use vapes from 1 June 2025 has been laid in Parliament.

Ailsa Rutter OBE Director of Fresh and Balance said:

“We welcome this legislation which is being introduced on environmental rather than health grounds and it is also important to remember that tobacco butts are lethally toxic to the environment. However removing disposable vapes from sale will also protect children – we have seen that some children have been using vapes which no parent wants.

“Children can experiment with a range of things including tobacco, alcohol and vaping. We recognise the appeal of disposable vapes to children and it is important that evidence based policies are taken to reduce this appeal, and that access to them needs to be addressed alongside plans to create a smokefree future for the next generation. The last thing we want is for children to get hooked on lethal tobacco which kills 2 in 3 lifelong smokers.

“Despite welcoming the ban, we also have to recognise that single use vapes have played an important role for people to quit smoking – and especially people with serious mental illness or older people who have been benefitting from a simple, easy to use alternative and significant less harmful form of nicotine delivery.

“Therefore it is important that any potential unintended consequences of the ban are considered as well, such as the risk it could make it harder for people who smoke to switch over totally to less harmful vaping as a way to stop smoking. The vape market has evolved and there is now a range of products similar to single use vapes but are refillable and rechargeable. It will be vital to ensure people who smoke, as well as healthcare and other frontline workers who may be supporting them to quit, are aware of all of the quitting options available.

“The message to people who smoke is clear: nicotine vaping poses a fraction of the risks of lethal tobacco smoking and, although they are not risk free, they are effective in supporting people to quit tobacco use and there are other options to help you switch over totally.”

ASH UK

ASH UK LogoPress Release

Disposable vapes to be banned by 1st June 2025 : 24 Oct 2024.

Five million single-use vapes are currently binned or littered every week in the UK
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.”

Royal College Of Physicians

rcp logoPress Release

The RCP has responded to new legislation laid out in parliament committing to banning single-use vapes by June 2025.

Commenting on the new legislation, Professor Sanjay Agrawal, Royal College of Physicians special adviser on tobacco, said:

“We welcome the introduction of legislation to ban single-use vapes, the products most used by children and young people. E-cigarettes play an important role in helping adults to quit smoking but there has been a significant and concerning rise in youth vaping – in 2024 18% of 11–18-year-olds said that they had tried vaping.

“As our report on e-cigarettes set out earlier this year, single-use vapes continue to present significant environmental and safety hazards, and the recycling of these products has been widely neglected. This legislation will go a long way to limit the damage these products have had on our environment.

“It will be key to monitor any unintended consequences around banning single-use vapes and Government must keep a watchful eye on industry to ensure that it does not use loopholes to skirt the definition of disposable.

“There is more that must be done to tackle the availability and appeal of vapes to young people, as well as the harms of tobacco, so we urge government to bring forward the Tobacco and Vapes Bill as quickly as possible.”

Social Media Responses

As you can imagine this has been quite a heated debate – on both sides of the argument!

Shell Ecigclick Photo
Michelle Jones

I am an engineer and Technical Author by trade. My journey in vaping began around 2016, in the days of Tornado tanks, Ego batteries and Variable Voltage. It took me a few years to fully quit smoking but I finally stopped in June 2019 and that is all thanks to vaping! 20mg Nicotine Salts are my hero! Oh and I am partial to a nice pod mod and Bubblegum e-liquid! I have reported on the latest news on Ecigclick since 2017 and love being part of this great team! My passion for Tobacco Harm Reduction has also led me to becoming a Trustee for the NNA (New Nicotine Alliance) aiding in Advocacy

Michelle Jones
https://nnalliance.org/nna-uk/board
I am an engineer and Technical Author by trade. My journey in vaping began around 2016, in the days of Tornado tanks, Ego batteries and Variable Voltage. It took me a few years to fully quit smoking but I finally stopped in June 2019 and that is all thanks to vaping! 20mg Nicotine Salts are my hero! Oh and I am partial to a nice pod mod and Bubblegum e-liquid! I have reported on the latest news on Ecigclick since 2017 and love being part of this great team! My passion for Tobacco Harm Reduction has also led me to becoming a Trustee for the NNA (New Nicotine Alliance) aiding in Advocacy
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