Health, waste and enforcement organisations have welcomed the government’s decision to proceed with a ban on the sale of disposable vapes from the June 1, 2025.

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), Material Focus and Chartered Trading Standards Institute have worked collaboratively to raise concerns about their links to the increase in teen vaping and the impact of these single-use products on the environment.

The organisations have said the ban is unlikely on its own to be sufficient in addressing these issues but is a welcome indication of the government’s intention to address the problems in the vaping market. It is backed by the public, with 77 per cent supporting the measure.

Hazel Cheeseman, chief executive for ASH, said, “When there is a viable alternative to disposable products the government is right to push ahead with this ban. The public are fed up of seeing disposable vapes littered across our communities and the proposed regulations are already driving changes in the market with more reusable versions of popular disposable brands being sold.

"However, while the ban is an important show of intention from the government, without further product and branding regulations this ban will be insufficient to address the popularity of vapes among teenagers. The government must introduce the proposed ‘Tobacco and Vapes Bill’ swiftly.”

Disposable or single use vapes have posed a major waste problem with products not being disposed of correctly, with very few being recycled. Waste from vapes would be reduced if more people switch to reusable products.

Scott Butler, executive director of Material Focus, said, “When a disposable vape ban comes in, vapes still do need a special category under environmental regulations, which would allow the government to set clear collection targets and can help in the move to get those profiting from vapes to cover the costs of dealing with them.”

The Mental Health and Smoking Partnership is a coalition of public health and mental health charities working to reduce the much higher rates of smoking among people with mental health conditions. While they have welcomed the ban, they said that mental health services and their patients may need additional support to transition away from disposable products.

Mark Rowland, chair of the partnership and chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation, said, “We welcome action to curb youth vaping and address environmental concerns but the most vulnerable groups of smokers must not be forgotten.

“Smokers with mental health conditions are more likely to be using disposable vapes currently and many inpatient mental health setting will only allow disposable vapes to be used. The NHS needs to support trusts and patients to transition to reusable products and ensure more people are supported to stop smoking.”

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