A pair of gloved hands holding multiple-coloured vapes. The photo is from a top down view.

Disposable vapes and cigarette butts

Many disposable vapes are ending up littered on our streets where they pollute the environment. Adding to that are cigarette butts containing plastic. We're campaigning for change.

Disposable vapes

The problem

Data from Material Focus highlights the extent of the single-use vape problem in the UK. With 14 million single-use vapes sold each month in the UK, many are ending up littered on our streets where they pollute the environment, making their way into rivers and eventually, the ocean.

As a society, we must move away from single-use products towards a circular economy, one in which refilling and reusing is the norm, rather than throwing away and polluting our environment.

1.3 million

single-use vapes thrown away each week in UK

14 million

single-use vapes sold each month in UK

Single-use vapes and recycling

Recycling disposable vapes is tricky, as they contain several different materials, including plastic, copper, lithium, and many more.

Because different materials are recycled separately, this means the vapes can’t just be put into one particular bin. When the materials end up in the wrong recycling bins, they contaminate the contents, meaning none of it can then be recycled. You should contact your local council to find out how best to dispose of them in your area.

If you use vapes, the best thing you can do for the environment is to switch from single-use to a reusable alternative.

A hand is holding up a colourful disposable vape, the sandy beach is in the background. The disposable vape is litter.

Image credit: Dr Rebecca Wade

Read our position statement on disposable vapes

Banning disposable vapes

Laura Young, environmental activist and member of our Youth Ocean Network, led the #BanDisposableVapes campaign, affecting change across the UK. Thanks to her campaigning and with our support, all four nations across the UK announced a ban on dispoable vapes, which came into effect on 1st June 2025. This was a big win for our seas and we'll be keeping an eye on the data to see how this ban affects litter found on our beaches. 

 

Cigarette butts

Cigarettes are a key contributor to the plastic pollution problem. Single-use plastic cigarette filters are consistently in the top items found on UK beaches during our Great British Beach Clean.

Similar to single-use vapes, we want single-use plastic cigarette filters banned plus a review of other single-use filters as soon as possible. These filters can take around 14 years to degrade while releasing a cocktail of chemicals, as well as microplastics, into the environment.

We’re working with ASH Scotland, Keep Scotland Beautiful and ASH Wales to highlight both the negative health implications of single-use plastic filters as well as the environmental impact. We’re asking the governments of Wales and Scotland to support our call for a ban.

Read our joint policy with ASH Scotland and KSB on cigarette filters
Read our joint statement with ASH Wales on cigarette filters

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