More than 6m vapes and pods discarded weekly in UK despite single-use ban, study finds

Vapes at a recycling facility before the disposables ban began last June. Material Focus said an estimated 2.2m single-use vapes were still being bought each week. Photograph: Amit Lennon/PA

More than 6m vapes and vape pods are still being discarded every week in the UK, with waste management companies warning the sheer volume continues to strain recycling systems despite the ban on disposable e-cigarettes.

According to research by the recycling campaign group Material Focus, the 6.3m vapes and pods thrown away each week in 2025 represented a 23% reduction from the previous year.