Disposable Vapes To Be Banned By July 2025
New legislation to ban the sale of single-use vapes from 1 June 2025 has been laid in Parliament, Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh on the 24th of October.
The new crackdown will not only reduce vape waste drastically but also limit use by the public, with a quarter of 11-15-year-olds using a vape last year. Vape usage in England grew by more than 400% between 2012 and 2023, and with this came huge volumes discarded in landfill.
What Threat Do Disposable Vapes Pose?
Environmental Impact
Disposable vapes pose a serious environmental threat due to their non-biodegradable components, toxic chemicals, and lithium batteries. These single-use devices contain plastic casings, lithium-ion batteries, and nicotine salts, all of which have harmful environmental impacts if not disposed of correctly. The growing volume of discarded vapes in landfills poses risks of chemical leakage, plastic pollution, and fire hazards due to battery leakage or combustion.
Every year, millions of disposable vapes are discarded, and due to their small size, many users throw them in the regular waste stream, unaware of the need for proper recycling.
Improper disposal contributes to the rising issue of e-waste, and lithium mining for vape batteries further depletes finite resources, leading to additional ecological damage.
Reducing the availability of single-use vapes can significantly alleviate these environmental burdens, particularly if paired with robust recycling solutions.
Vape Culture
Vaping has become popular among younger age groups, partially due to the appeal of disposable devices which are compact, easy to use, and often marketed with flavours attractive to younger audiences. Unfortunately, this trend has fueled a ‘throwaway culture’ where these products are used briefly and then discarded, contributing to the waste problem.
The ease of access to disposable vapes has also raised concerns around underage vaping, leading to calls for stricter regulations to prevent young people from adopting this habit at an early age.
With the impending ban, advocates hope to see a shift in culture toward more sustainable vaping habits, encouraging the use of reusable devices with replaceable components that generate far less waste.
We Recycle Disposable Vapes For Businesses
At Collect and Recycle, we provide a nationwide solution for businesses needing to dispose of vapes responsibly and sustainably. With our specialised collection and recycling service, we handle large volumes of disposable vapes, extracting valuable materials like lithium and separating out plastics to ensure they are recycled or disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner.
Our services help businesses stay compliant with waste management regulations while contributing to a circular economy model.
