Single-use vapes should be banned on environmental and health grounds, councils and the LGA have said for the first time.
The LGA is calling on the Government to ban the sale and manufacture of single-use vapes by 2024.
Councils say it is crucial that a ban comes into effect rapidly, as the EU is proposing a ban in 2026 and France is rolling out a ban in December 2023, so disposable vapes will flood into the UK.
Single-use vapes are designed as one unit, making them almost impossible to recycle without going through special treatment.
The lithium batteries inside the plastic can become flammable when crushed. This comes at a cost to the council taxpayer through fire damage and the treatment needed to deal with hazardous waste.
With 1.3 million disposable vapes thrown away every week, they have become a regular item of litter on local streets. Councils are also concerned by the marketing of vapes with designs and flavours that appeal to children, resulting in more children vaping.
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.
“However, disposable vapes are fundamentally flawed in their design and inherently unsustainable products, meaning an outright ban will prove more effective.
“Single-use vapes blight our streets as litter, are a hazard in our bin lorries, and are expensive to deal with in our recycling centres. Their colours, flavours and advertising are appealing to children.
“Councils urge the Government to take this action to protect our planet, keep children safe and save taxpayers’ money.”
