As per recent guidance, the sale of single-use/disposable vapes will be banned from 1 June 2025. This change comes under The Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (England) Regulations 2024.
From 1 June 2025, it will be an offence to supply, offer for supply, or possess for supply any single-use vapes, regardless of whether they contain nicotine. Single-use vapes are defined as devices that are not refillable or rechargeable. Businesses selling these products are advised to review their stock and ensure compliance ahead of the ban.
Retailers caught breaking the law in England face a minimum £200 fine, with a prison sentence of up to two years for repeat offences. Penalties are broadly similar in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Trading Standards will be able to seize any single-use vapes they find.
In addition to the sales ban, businesses must adhere to responsibilities under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013. This includes offering a ‘take back’ service for used vapes and components such as pods, coils, and batteries, to facilitate safe recycling and minimise fire risks.
Westminster Council Trading Standards officers will be conducting compliance visits after the ban comes into force. Non-compliant products may be seized, and businesses risk facing fines or other enforcement action.
© Elsa Olofsson
Why has the ban come in?
The ban on disposable vapes was introduced to tackle their impact on the environment. Defra (the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs) estimate that almost 5 million single-use vapes were thrown away every week in 2023.
As well as lithium-ion batteries, vapes also contain circuit boards. If these are not disposed of properly, they can leak toxic compounds such as cobalt and copper, damaging the environment and habitats. The Local Government Association (LGA), also says that single-use vapes are “a hazard for waste and litter collection and cause fires in bin lorries“.
Recycling disposable vapes is challenging, due to their size and menthod of production, which makes them harder to disassemble. There is currently no large-scale disposable vape recycling in the UK. There are so many different types of vape on the market that it is difficult to develop a standard recycling process.
More information
You can download the Trading Standards letter sent to businesses in Westminster here.
More information can be found on the Government website.
