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What Is The Disposable Vape Ban?
The ban is Coming June 2025. Here's what it means for us in wales
Protecting our environment and our communities across Wales
From 1st June 2025, it will be illegal to sell or supply disposable vapes anywhere in the UK, including here in Wales. This law covers all single-use vapes, whether they contain nicotine or not. The change is being made to reduce environmental damage caused by these throwaway devices and to support a shift towards more sustainable alternatives.
What Are Disposable Vapes?
Disposable vapes are single-use devices designed to be thrown away after use. They come pre-filled with e-liquid, often include a built-in battery, and can’t be recharged or refilled.
From 1st June 2025, these products will no longer be legal to sell or supply anywhere in the UK. This applies too.
- All single-use vape devices, including those labelled as nicotine-free
- All UK retailers, including shops, markets, and online sellers (incl giveaways or multi-buy deals)
Refillable and rechargeable vapes will remain legal, provided they meet existing UK regulations. To be legal after the ban, vape products must be refillable, rechargeable, and have a replaceable coil.
Why the Ban Matters?
Every week, around 5 million disposable vapes are thrown away in the UK. These small devices contain lithium batteries, plastics, and chemicals that are hard to recycle. When put in the bin, they can start fires in bin lorries and waste sites. When littered, they pollute our parks, streets, and waterways.
This ban is about protecting our communities in Wales and cutting down on unnecessary waste. It’s part of wider efforts to tackle single-use products and protect our natural environment for future generations.
What If You Already Have Disposable Vapes At Home?
If you’ve already bought disposable vapes for personal use, you won’t be in trouble for owning or using them after the ban starts. The law is for businesses and suppliers not individuals.
From 1st June 2025, it will be illegal to sell or supply disposable vapes in the UK. If you try to purchase them from unofficial sellers or online sources after this date, you may be supporting illegal activity and those selling them are breaking the law. From this date, you won’t be able to buy disposable vapes anymore as they will be illegal.
What to Watch Out For?
Some sellers may try to get around the rules when the ban comes in. Reporting this illegal activity matters because if a business is willing to break the law by selling banned vapes, there’s a good chance they’re also targeting under-18s and funding criminal activities. Here’s what to look out for when the ban comes in:
Fake charging ports
If it’s pre-filled and can’t be refilled, it’s still banned, even if it charges.
Words To Avoid Suspicion
Words like “refillable” or “multi-use” are sometimes used to disguise illegal disposables.
Look-alike products
They may been rebranded to avoid detection. If they can’t be refilled or reused, they are illegal.
Shops with “sale” prices
Cheap offers or “clearance” deals may be attempts to offload banned stock.
No clear UK contact details
legal products must show a UK or EU company name, address and phone number.
Selling to children or teens
Vapes should never be sold to under-18s. If you see it happening, it’s worth reporting.
Seen Something That Doesn’t Look Right?
Selling banned vapes, misleading packaging, no UK supplier details, these are all worth reporting.
If you spot illegal vapes or any other illegal products such as illegal tobacco or cannabis) in your community, report anonymously through No Ifs. No Butts.
How to Dispose of Old Disposable Vapes?
Disposable vapes must never go in household bins. They should be taken to your local recycling centre where small electrical waste is accepted.
All shops that sell vapes must now offer a free take-back scheme under UK law. This means they are legally required to accept used vapes for recycling when a customer buys a new one of a similar type. Look out for in-store signage explaining how to return them.
Vapes that go in regular bins can cause fires and are hazardous to waste workers and the environment.
If you’re a business with leftover stock, speak to your supplier or licensed waste contractor about safe and legal recycling. Unsold or returned vapes must not go into general waste.
For more information on disposing of vapes visit: Wales Recycles.
What If I'm A Shop Owner?
If you run a shop or retail business in Wales, the new rules mean you must:
Stop ordering disposable vape products
Remove all stock from sale before 1st June 2025
Inform staff of the new legal requirements
Arrange safe recycling or disposal of any leftover stock
There is no “grace period” after 1st June. From that day forward, selling or supplying a single-use vape will be against the law. Do not attempt to repackage or relabel disposables as reusable if a vape cannot be refilled and recharged, it is banned. Selling banned products after 1st June could result in fines or prosecution.
For official business guidance, visit: Welsh Government: Single-use Vapes Ban Guidance for Businesses
