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The sale of disposable vapes will be banned in the United Kingdom beginning Sunday, as the country becomes the latest to tackle the "environmental nightmare" of the single-use devices.
However, some campaigners warn that the new restrictions are just "a drop in the ocean" in the war against plastic waste.
An estimated 8.2 million disposable vapes – the equivalent of 13 every second – are discarded in the UK every week, according to an analysis released by environmental group Material Focus in December.
In official guidance, the UK government described the disposable vapes as "eyesores," and said their widespread disposal has "a hugely damaging impact on our environment and wildlife." The plastics used in disposable vape products are "nearly impossible for nature to completely break down," it added.
Improperly discarded batteries can ignite rubbish trucks and waste facilities, it said, with Material Focus linking such incidents to around 1,200 fires between May 2023 and May 2024.
"The ban will also help curb the rise in youth vaping," the government said. "Over half of children who use vapes report that 'disposable' models are their product of choice."
The legislation will not criminalize possession of disposable vapes. Instead, it targets retailers and distributors, who could face initial penalty fines of £200 ($270) for violations after Sunday. For continued breaches of the new law, an offender could be hit with further fines or a prison sentence.
The ban positions the UK among the first countries in Europe to legislate against disposable vapes, following similar moves in France and Belgium.
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📸 : Leon Neal/Getty Images
