From Sunday 1 June 2025, it will be illegal for businesses to sell or supply all single-use vapes. Defra explains why this ban is important and what this means for those who buy or supply these vapes.

Single-use vapes harm our environment and wildlife, releasing substances like lead and mercury into our soil, rivers and streams. They are also extremely wasteful of the valuable resources contained in these products, such as lithium, cobalt and copper. 
 
Taking these products off the shelves will support the move to a more circular economy, where our resources are kept in use for longer and things are built to last.  

The ban includes all ‘disposable’ vapes which are not refillable and use a battery which cannot be recharged. It will come into force on 1 June 2025, the same day across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. 

Working with Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish governments, Defra are urging retailers to stop buying new stock of single-use vapes and sell all existing stock before 1 June 2025.  We’re also reminding retailers of their legal duty to provide collection points for waste vapes to their customers.

Defra have also produced an infographic leaflet with guidance for businesses, and a downloadable poster to display in windows and help inform customers about the ban.  

Just sharing that our one-month reminder posts have now gone live on Defra channels. Please follow the links below. 

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