October 24th 2024.
The government has recently announced that they will be implementing a ban on disposable vapes starting on June 1, 2025. This decision comes after concerns were raised about the negative impact these single-use vapes have on children's health and the environment. Other countries, such as Scotland and Northern Ireland, are also expected to follow suit and announce similar bans in the coming weeks.
Businesses will have until the ban goes into effect to sell any remaining stock and prepare for the change. This ban was initially announced by the Conservative government in January, but it was not put into action until after the general election. Shockingly, it is estimated that almost five million vapes were thrown away every week last year, adding up to a significant amount of environmental waste.
The issue with disposable vapes is that they are incredibly harmful to the environment. They are difficult to recycle and contain harmful substances like lithium, battery acid, and mercury. Throwing these batteries into bins has caused hundreds of fires at waste processing centers and the back of refuse trucks. It is estimated that around 40 tonnes of lithium were thrown away in the past year alone, enough to power 5,000 electric vehicles.
According to the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, almost five million single-use vapes were either littered or discarded every week last year. The use of vapes in the UK has increased by 400% between 2012 and 2023, with around 9.1% of the population now using them. This alarming rise in usage, particularly among young people, has prompted the government to take action.
Mary Creagh, the circular economy minister, stated that disposable vapes were extremely wasteful and blighted towns and cities. She added that this ban was the first step towards a circular economy, where resources are used for longer, waste is reduced, and the country moves towards a net-zero future. Health minister Andrew Gwynne also noted the worrying statistic that a quarter of 11-15-year-olds used a vape last year, with disposable vapes being the product of choice for the majority of young vapers.
While it is already illegal to sell disposable vapes to anyone under 18, the colorful and attractive packaging of these vapes has been a key driver in the rise of youth vaping. The ban on disposable vapes will not only protect the environment, but it will also reduce the appeal of vapes to children and keep them out of the hands of vulnerable young people. The NHS notes that while vaping is less harmful than smoking cigarettes, its long-term effects are still unknown. Health Secretary Wes Streeting plans to present this proposal to parliament before the end of the year.
Libby Peake, head of resources at Green Alliance, expressed concern over the unchecked growth of the disposable vapes market, stating that they are the last thing our children and the planet need. The UK Vaping Industry Association responded to the proposal in January, saying that vapes have helped millions of adults quit smoking, and banning them would only put children at risk and increase the black market for these products.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
