As of 1 June 2025, the UK government has banned the use of single-use vapes. Under the Government’s Plan for Change, this move is intended to stop the flood of litter on to nation’s streets and protect young people from getting hooked on nicotine.

As part of tough enforcement measures, any rogue traders breaking the rules will be hit with a fine of £200 in the first instance, and all products will be seized. Those who show a blatant disregard for the rules and reoffend face being slapped with an unlimited fine or jail time.

Libby Peake, senior fellow and head of resources at Green Alliance, said:

Single use vapes should never have been allowed on the market. They’ve been a blight on our countryside, wasted resources needed for important uses like EV batteries and caused scores of fires at waste sites. And they’ve done all this while having a lasting impact on the health of young people, creating a new generation of nicotine addicts.

The government should rightly be proud of taking this vital step to get rid of these polluting products and encourage people who want to quit smoking to opt for reusable and refillable options instead.

Chief External Affairs and Sustainability Officer for SUEZ UK, Dr Adam Read MBE, said:

We wholeheartedly welcome this ban. The sheer ubiquity of single use vapes has been an escalating problem for the entire waste industry. This legislation, as well as cutting the number of children becoming addicted to nicotine, will also significantly reduce the quantity of lithium-ion batteries entering the general waste stream. The result has to be a safer waste industry, fewer costly and inconvenient service interruptions and a let-up in the pressure placed by battery fires on our emergency services."