Retailers are being urged to sell off all of their remaining stocks of single-use vapes before new legislation banning them from sale is introduced on 1 June.
The ban, which is an initiative of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), will make it illegal for businesses to sell or supply, offer to sell or supply, or have in their possession for sale or supply all single-use or ‘disposable’ vapes. It will apply to online and bricks-and-mortar sales, and includes all single-use vapes, whether or not they contain nicotine.
The ban applies in all of the four nations of the UK. In England, any businesses which fail to comply could face a stop notice or a fine of £200 in the first instance, with all products seized by Trading Standards. If any further infractions occur, businesses could be hit with an unlimited fine or face prosecution. The sanctions in Wales are similar to England, while businesses in Northern Ireland and Scotland could face fines of up to £5,000.
The single-use vape ban complements the upcoming Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which will incrementally increase the legal age of sale for tobacco and introduce tougher controls on the sale and advertising of tobacco and vapes. As previously announced, the Bill is being supported by an additional £10m funding investment for Trading Standards to bolster enforcement capacity through apprenticeships.
In addition to public health concerns, the ban on single-use vapes is driven by environmental considerations; analysis by Material Focus found that an estimated 8.2 million vapes are discarded every week in the UK, the equivalent of 13 every second. However, recycling single-use vapes is notoriously difficult, with waste industry workers needing to dismantle them by hand. Their contents also present a fire risk to recycling facilities and they can leak harmful chemicals into the environment.
According to DEFRA, “With less than two months until the ban comes into force, businesses must take action now to ensure they are prepared for its implementation. This includes ensuring all remaining stocks of single-use vapes are sold, and only buying vapes that follow the new regulations. If businesses have any single-use vapes in their possession after 1 June 2025, they will not be able to sell them to shoppers and must ensure they are disposed of safely.”
Waste Minister Mary Creagh said: “For too long, single-use vapes have littered our streets, wasted valuable resources and harmed wildlife. Our ban comes into force in just a few weeks so businesses must play their part by running down stocks and ensuring the remainder are collected for recycling.
“The Government is committed to moving towards a more circular economy, where we use, repair and refill things for longer, to reduce waste.”
Scott Butler, executive director of Material Focus, said: “The upcoming ban will take some of the most environmentally wasteful vape models off the market. But it is important now and going forwards that vape producers and retailers meet their long-standing obligations to provide and pay for the takeback and recycling of all types of vapes sold historically and in the future.
“This means offering in-store takeback wherever they are sold and financing the costs of recycling and recovering the materials from them to support a more sustainable and circular economy. Material Focus has produced a vapes briefing paper that explains how vape retailers and producers can do this and also provides guidance for local authorities.”
Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Ashley Dalton, commented: “Single-use vapes are one of the most wasteful products on our high streets, with 13 being thrown away every second across the UK. But this isn’t just an environmental crisis – it’s a public health one too. Single-use vapes, often sweet in flavour, are the product of choice for many young people, drawing a new generation into nicotine addiction.
“The ban will complement the world-leading Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which will tackle youth vaping and safeguard our children’s health. I urge retailers to plan accordingly, as we work together to create a cleaner, greener, and healthier Britain for future generations.”
