The LGA (Local Government Association) have published a call for disposable vapes to be banned.
The article published on 14th July 2023 claims that the LGA which represents councils in England and Wales is calling for the Government to ban the sale and manufacture of single use vapes by 2024.
You can read the article here – “Councils call for ban of disposable vapes“.
The LGA are pushing for the ban to kick in 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”
The article states that disposable vapes are a hazard for waste and litter collection and cause fires in bin lorries.
Another issue cited is the impact vaping is apparently having on children. The marketing of vapes with designs and flavours that could appeal for children is causing concern.
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.”
UKVIA Response
The UKVIA (UK Vaping Industry Association) has replied in a press release.
John Dunne – Director General of the UKVIA says…
“While it is important to protect the environment, it is crucial to realise that smoking kills more than 200 UK smokers every day affecting families and loved ones across the country. Most smokers have used, and continue to use, single use vapes to help them quit combustible cigarettes.
“The low price, accessibility and ease of use of these products have played a key role in helping bring the UK smoking rate to an all-time low. A recent report from the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) concluded that converting smokers to vapers saved the NHS more than £320 million in a single year.
“Experience across the world shows that where blanket bans have been introduced on regulated single use vapes, there is a massive influx of illegal, untested and potentially deadly black-market products which take their place and this is in nobody’s interest.
“It also makes absolutely no sense to call for a ban on disposable vapes while ignoring the much bigger problem of smoking and its related litter which accounts for 68% of all litter in the UK and discarded cigarette butts alone cost local authorities £40 million a year to clean up.
“The negative consequences of these proposals have not been thought through and this also looks like a move by the LGA to support cash-strapped councils who don’t want to invest in the local authority’s waste management capability required to support smokers transitioning to considerably less harmful vapes.
“Smokers pay their taxes for local services, one being recycling, and local government needs to think whether recycling costs are a more important consideration than helping to potentially save the lives of local people through vaping, including disposables, which has huge potential to save local hospitals across the country millions of pounds every year.
“The vape industry is working hard to minimise environmental impact but this is mainly a consumer education issue about how to dispose of used vapes, which overall are evidenced to be highly recyclable. We need vastly more recycling points in city and town centres to make it as easy as possible for people to act responsibly.”
ASH Response
ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) UK have responded with their own press release.
“ASH is sympathetic to calls by the LGA and others to ban single-use disposable e-cigarettes, but the risk of unintended consequences is too great for us to support a ban. Children already find it easy to get hold of illegal vapes, as those selling them have no qualms selling to children, making them all illegal won’t help. The sale of illegal disposable vapes, already large and growing, will be turbo-charged if they are banned. Illegal vapes go under the regulatory radar, they’ve been found to contain all sorts of toxic chemicals banned in legal products, and there’s no way to ensure they’re properly recycled. That’s why ASH supports putting an excise tax on disposable vapes, which could make them much less affordable, while giving much greater powers to Border Force, HMRC and trading standards to control their import, distribution and sale, and to force vape companies to ensure they are properly recycled.”
Related Tweets
Responding to the LGA’s proposal, our Director General John Dunne said: “While it is important to protect the environment, it is crucial to realise that smoking kills more than 200 UK smokers every day, affecting families and loved ones across the country.”
(2/7)
— UKVIA (@Vaping_Industry) July 15, 2023
He said: “It makes absolutely no sense to call for a ban on disposable vapes while ignoring the much bigger problem of smoking and its related litter, which account for 68% of all litter in the UK…the negative consequences of these proposals have not been thought through.”
(4/7)
— UKVIA (@Vaping_Industry) July 15, 2023
He said: “This looks like a move by the LGA to support cash-strapped councils who don’t want to invest in the local authority’s waste management capability required to support smokers transitioning to considerably less harmful vapes.”
(6/7)
— UKVIA (@Vaping_Industry) July 15, 2023
ASH is sympathetic to calls by local councils and children’s doctors to ban single use disposable e-cigarettes, but the risk of unintended consequences is too great for us to support a ban.https://t.co/AiI1GnKvgo
— ASH (@AshOrgUK) July 15, 2023
Councils have called for a ban on disposable vapes
By 77% to 13%, Britons would support such a banhttps://t.co/xTQBYWEn8p pic.twitter.com/Yc22agoZan
— YouGov (@YouGov) July 18, 2023
🚭 We are glad to see the @LGAcomms calling for a ban on disposable vapes!
We’re calling for the public to share their concerns about vapes, especially those pertaining to wildlife and the environment. 🌳🦔
Take part in our survey here: https://t.co/IDLLNMsFSN#VexedByVapes pic.twitter.com/AtRRdE384f
— RSPCA (England & Wales) (@RSPCA_official) July 15, 2023
Disposable vapes, such as Lost Mary and Elf bars, have become a regular and hazardous litter item on our streets.
Today we are calling for them to be banned, here’s why ⤵️🧵 1/3 pic.twitter.com/VLg7frwQrk
— Local Government Association (LGA) (@LGAcomms) July 15, 2023
Councils are also concerned about the impact vaping is having on children and young people.
Children who have never smoked a cigarette before have started vaping.
Read our full press release here ⤵️ 3/3https://t.co/JdNjviSxlI pic.twitter.com/Af77nShCZU
— Local Government Association (LGA) (@LGAcomms) July 15, 2023