Should disposable vapes be banned?

 

For what reason? Public health?

Walk down the street, and you will probably spot finger-sized colourful plastic tubes discarded on the ground.

Disposable vapes are booming in popularity, especially among those aged 18-34. They are easy to use and cheap.

But campaigners say they are an environmental nightmare with one activist calling for them to be banned.

The vape industry told BBC News that the problem lies with unclear disposal rules and that there needs to be better national schemes for recycling.

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Disposable vapes - which last for around 600 "puffs" - contain valuable materials such as lithium batteries and copper, as well as plastic, meaning they are classed as Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment .

Consumers should dispose of them at a household recycling centre or at the shop where they bought the device.

But many are unaware. Before Kate Matteson gave up vaping, she exclusively used single-use vapes.

"The disposable ones are just so readily available at the counter of every corner shop, right next to the chewing gum. It's hard to make the jump from a £5 ready-to-go vape, to a £20+ reusable contraption that might leak and is more hassle," she told BBC News.

She said she had no idea they were recyclable and that the "messaging could definitely be improved".

"If the vape companies ran social media ads letting people know how to dispose of them, it would grab our attention," she suggested.

What are disposable vapes?

A typical disposable vape pen - designed for single-use- contains plastic, copper and lithium

Under UK laws they must contain 2ml of e-liquid (or 600 'puffs') and a maximum of 2% nicotine

They are classed as waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), which puts them in the same category as goods like kettles