Local councils in England and Wales are raising concerns about the environmental impact and safety risks associated with disposable vapes. According to the Local Government Association (LGA), an estimated 1.3 million disposable vapes are discarded each week, prompting calls for a complete ban on these products by 2024. The surge in popularity of single-use vapes, largely driven by Chinese brands like Elfbar and Lost Mary, has led to a significant increase in litter problems and fire hazards.

Disposable vapes, which offer a few hundred puffs of nicotine-containing vapour in colourful plastic packaging, have gained traction due to their convenience and ease of use. Unlike conventional vapes or e-cigarettes that require refilling, disposable vapes are simply discarded when empty. However, these products also contain a small lithium battery that can pose a fire risk when crushed, particularly in waste collection vehicles, warns the LGA.

Figures from research firm NielsenIQ indicate that the scale of the problem could be even larger than anticipated. Over the past year, nearly 300 million e-cigarettes, including disposable ones, were sold in the UK. Notably, Elfbar and Lost Mary, manufactured by the Chinese firm Shenzhen Imiracle Technology Co, accounted for more than half of this number, showing a more than fourfold increase compared to the previous year.

Councillor David Fothergill, chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, expressed concerns over the design and sustainability of disposable vapes, emphasizing that an outright ban would be more effective than attempting to improve recycling practices for these products. Local councils are not against vaping as a whole, acknowledging its potential as a harm-reduction tool and smoking cessation aid.

However, the UK Vaping Industry Association argues that disposable vapes have played a crucial role in reducing smoking rates due to their affordability, accessibility, and ease of use. John Dunne, director general of the association, believes that the environmental impact can be mitigated through consumer education on proper disposal and recycling methods. He cautioned that a blanket ban might lead to a surge in potentially dangerous black market products flooding the UK.