Woman who started disposable vape ban campaign hailed 'hero' but some see problem

Disposable vapes are to be banned in the UK from Sunday (June 1) in a bid to cut back on . The new law will be applied to businesses rather than individuals, however, meaning that it will be a criminal offence for retailers to sell or supply such single-use products - but not illegal for vapers to smoke them for personal use.

It follows a by Laura Young, whose campaign pointed out that a staggering 5 million disposable were discarded every week in the UK in 2023, which over a year is equivalent to the lithium batteries of 5,000 electric vehicles. In the build-up to the ban, meanwhile, Dan Marchant, Managing Director at the UK's largest online vaping retailer, , and Co-Founder of the UK Vaping Industry Association, reported that disposable vape sales have increased by 50-100%, with some of the most popular flavours more than doubling according to his latest sales figures.

"It’s not surprising that adults who have been relying on these products to remain smoke-free are stockpiling ahead of the ban," Dan said. "It can take some time to find a replacement product that the user is comfortable with, so having enough disposables to get you by for a few weeks will be a safety blanket for those who are scared they may return to otherwise."

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With the ban's introduction, just 48 hours away, Laura took to TikTok to share a video in response to one frustrated vaper who admitted he "doesn't know what to do" after the ban seemingly "crept up" on him. Laura highlighted the "interesting part" of the man's video - a part in which he simply stated he "just likes disposable ones".

Laura continued: "It explains the problem - people just like disposable vapes. They don't want to use a reusable. They think it looks uncool and that's the reason they use disposable.

"That's where the problem lies - they are very convenient, they are very cheap and they're easy just to use and then throw away. But that's the whole problem - every single disposable vape has a battery, a lithium ion battery and it's full of metals and minerals that are very precious. And then we are using that electronic device and then throwing it away."

Writing in response, hundreds of Brits hailed the move including one who penned: "I see vape bars discarded everywhere, it’s the right decision to ban them. If you are that addicted to flavoured air you need to seek help to stop."

A second person added: "Thank God I won’t have to look at bins completely covered in the little stickers from disposables or discarded ones all over the ground any more." A third TikTok user noted: "Vaping looks uncool regardless. I honestly think it looks embarrassing whatever way you do it, so he needn’t worry too much about that. I can’t wait for the ban, I work for a local authority litter department and they are an absolute menace."

Whilst a fourth praised Laura's endeavours, saying: "Well done for achieving something which is really, genuinely impactful and important. I never even considered that each vape had a battery and it was just binned. I can’t stand vapes, what a hideous invention they turned out to be."

Others, however, pointed out problems amid the ban. One suggested: "The risk is this opens up a massive black market opportunity."

Another sceptic told Laura: "Hate to burst your bubble, but many brands have added charging slots to their disposable vapes so they can continue selling. It doesn't make them any less disposable, nothing has really changed."

A third vaper shared: "I've only ever used reusable vapes but I think this is unlikely to change much. The people who are littering with them will pay the extra and do exactly the same as they did before. If anything, bigger batteries will be left strewn around. A reusable is only a couple of £ more than disposables."

And a fourth individual commented: "You can still get the disposable ones for the same price. But the batteries can be reused now. It’s just that now you can replace the pods but they are basically the same. And they will get disposed of the same."

Regarding the ban, the government's states: "From 1 June 2025, it is illegal for businesses to sell or supply single-use vapes. It is also illegal to offer to sell or supply single-use vapes, or to stock single-use vapes that you plan to sell or supply. Single-use vapes are also known as disposable vapes.

"The ban applies to:

• Sales online and in shops
• All vapes whether or not they contain nicotine

"You must arrange to recycle any leftover stock of single-use vapes from 1 June 2025. You can still sell and supply vapes that are reusable."

The government adds: "The ban applies to all businesses and organisations that sell or supply single-use vapes in the UK. This includes:

• Retailers – such as convenience stores, market stalls, petrol stations, specialist vape shops and supermarkets
• Manufacturers
• Wholesalers
• Importers
• Healthcare settings and stop smoking services.

A vape is single-use if it either:

• Has a battery you cannot recharge
• Is not refillable

To be reusable, a vape must have a:

• Rechargeable battery
• Refillable container that holds the vaping e-liquid (such as a chamber, capsule, cartridge, pod or tank)
• Removable and replaceable coil (if the vape contains a coil)."

Those who supply single-use vapes from Sunday face fines of £200 with increased penalties for further offences.