Thirteen vapes are thrown away every second in the UK – more than a million a day – leading to an “environmental nightmare”, according to research.
There has also been a rise in “big puff” vapes which are bigger and can hold up to 6,000 puffs per vape, with single use vapes averaging 600. Three million of these larger vapes are being bought every week according to the research, commissioned by Material Focus, and conducted by Opinium. 8.2 million vapes are now thrown away or recycled incorrectly every week.
From June 2025 it will be illegal to sell single-use vapes, a move designed to combat environmental damage and their widespread use by children. Vapes will only be allowed to be sold if they are rechargeable or contain a refillable cartridge.
But all types of vape contain lithium-ion batteries which are dangerous if crushed or damaged because they can cause fires in bin lorries or waste and recycling centres. These fires are on the rise across the UK, with an increase last year of 71% compared with 2022.
Many disposible vapes have USB C outlets to recharge the device. I personally think those should also be banned since there’s no way to refill them. Not sure why they specified rechargable as an exception here.
Those are only as ubiquitous as they are because of all the previous bans that wiped out all the juice and refillable mod manufacturers that used to exist. They’re just trading one problem for another and are now trying to blame end-users for the mess these legislatures have created (at least in the US).
The EU also has an eliquid limit, which means they have to dispose of more vapes.
What an idiotic (or very calculated) thing to target. You can buy ten 2mL vapes but you can’t have 20mL inside a single vape? I fail to see how this would alter anyone’s behavior as far as quitting nicotine goes and intentionally creates more waste. It’d be like legislating that you’re only allowed to sell cigarettes in a 3-pack. I say ‘calculated’ above because maybe this is the very situation they wanted to create so they could point to the mess and sway the public to look at vapers like disgusting pigs in order to pass even harsher laws.
They are refillable at least the lost mary bm6000 is (only one I’m familiar with), it’s actually pretty easy and gives you 10ml in a very small device a big advantage over normal vapes where in the UK the tank can only be 2ml.
They really need to either change that law (2ml is nothing) or start designing reusable vapes that attach the bottle in the same way so you don’t have to constantly refill.
To me the advantage is a small size and the 10ml container being cleverly attached to skirt a silly law.