Single use vapes, such as Elf bars, Lost Mary and Juul should be
banned on environmental and health grounds, councils say for the
first time today.
The Local Government Association, which represents councils in
England and Wales, is calling for the Government to ban the sale
and manufacture of single use vapes by 2024.
The LGA said it is crucial that that ban comes into effect
rapidly, as with the EU proposing a ban in 2026 and France
rolling out a ban in Dec 2023, there is a risk that as markets
close disposable vapes will flood into the UK.
Disposable vapes are a hazard for waste and litter collection and
cause fires in bin lorries.
Single use vapes are designed as one unit so batteries cannot be
separated from the plastic, making them almost impossible to
recycle without going through special treatment
The lithium batteries inside the plastic can sharply increase in
temperature if crushed and can become flammable.
This comes at a cost to the council taxpayer through fire damage
to equipment and the specialist treatment needed to deal with
hazardous waste.
With 1.3 million disposable vapes thrown away every week, they
have also become a regular and obvious item of litter on our
streets.
Councils are also concerned about the impact vaping is having
upon children and young people. It is worrying that more and more
children – who have never smoked – are starting vaping.
Councils are especially concerned by the marketing of vapes with
designs and flavours that could appeal to children, in particular
those with fruity and bubble gum flavours, and colourful
child-friendly packaging. Strict new measures to regulate the
display and marketing of regular vaping products in the same way
as tobacco are needed.
Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing
Board said:
“Councils are not anti-vapes, which are shown to be less harmful
than smoking and have a place as a tool to use in smoking
cessation.
“However, disposable vapes are fundamentally flawed in their
design and inherently unsustainable products, meaning an outright
ban will prove more effective than attempts to recycle more
vapes.
“Single use vapes blight our streets as litter, are a hazard in
our bin lorries, are expensive and difficult to deal with in our
recycling centres. Their colours, flavours and advertising are
appealing to children and the penalties for retailers selling
them don’t go far enough.
“Councils urge the Government to take this action to protect our
planet, keep children safe and save taxpayers money.”
Notes to editors
The Government is already
taking some action on single-use plastics with, businesses must
no longer being allowed to supply, sell or offer certain
single-use plastic items in England from 1 October 2023.
Research commissioned by
Material Focus identified that 1.3 million single-use vapes are
thrown away every week, per annum this is enough to cover 22
football pitches.
