What do you need to know about the Single-Use Vape ban?
In recent years, vaping has become increasingly popular across the UK. Single-use (also known as disposable vapes) are an environmental headache that pose a significant threat to hazardous materials entering landfill sites.
From the 1st of June 2025, the sale and supply of all disposable vapes will be banned. This will apply to all disposable vapes whether they do or do not contain nicotine and for all sales, either in shops or online.
Why is the UK banning the sale and supply of single-use vapes?
Single-use vapes are often discarded as litter or thrown into residual (non-recycled) waste which is harmful to our environment and causes harm to biodiversity. When single-use vapes are thrown into black bins, they typically end up in landfill or incinerated. This can cause fires, risking the safety of the public, waste management workers and firefighters.
What is the definition of a single-use vape?
A single-use/disposable vape is a product that is not designed or intended to be re-used.
A vape will not be considered reusable if it is:
- Rechargeable but not refillable
- Refillable but not rechargeable
The definition of a reusable vape is:
- It has a battery which can be recharged
- It can be refillable with vape liquid
- The vape coil can be replaced by an average user
What happens if businesses continue to sell or supply single-use vapes?
It will be an offence to continue selling or supplying single-use vapes from the 1st of June 2025 (including both online and in-store sales). Different government agencies carry out regulatory functions and enforcement on illegal vapes and how the ban will be enforced will vary between the UK’s 4 nations. Read the government website here to find out more.
Can you recycle vapes?
Vapes are electrical items and are covered by the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations. Single-use and reusable vapes can be recycled after being carefully sorted by hand to remove separate the different materials and contents of the vape.
What’s Next?
We can support your business with preparing for the ban of single-use vapes to ensure you are compliant by the 1st of June.
Visit our page on Single-use vape recycling for more information: