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The Independent
a day ago
- Business
- The Independent
Disposable vapes are now banned from UK shops. This is what you need to know
The government has banned the sale of single-use disposable vapes in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland to combat youth nicotine addiction and environmental pollution. The ban makes it illegal for retailers, including corner shops and supermarkets, to sell disposable vapes, which are defined as having non-rechargeable batteries or non-refillable containers. The primary reasons for the ban are to protect the environment and reduce vaping among young people; it applies to both online and in-store sales of all disposable vapes, regardless of nicotine content. The Local Government Association (LGA) has cautioned against stockpiling disposable vapes due to the risk of fires caused by lithium batteries, which can enter thermal runaway and release toxic gases. Retailers can still sell reusable vapes, but those who continue to sell disposable vapes face a £200 fine for the first offense, with potential for unlimited fines or jail time for repeat offenses.
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Vapers warned not to stockpile ‘fire risk' disposables before UK ban
Vapers have been warned not to stockpile soon-to-be-banned disposables before Sunday's outright ban as they 'pose a significant fire risk'. The Local Government Association (LGA) said users were stocking up on single-use e-cigarettes while they could, as shops would face fines for selling them after the ban takes effect. And although the temptation from consumers may be to hoard their favourite flavours, the LGA said the lithium batteries inside could become a hazard if not stored correctly. David Fothergill, the chair of the LGA's community wellbeing board, said: 'We want to remind businesses to ensure all remaining stocks of disposable vapes are sold, and only buying vapes that follow the new regulations. 'If businesses have any single-use vapes in their possession after Sunday, they will not be able to sell them to shoppers and must ensure they are stored and disposed of safely. 'We would also urge caution to anyone stockpiling disposable vapes. Failing to store disposable vapes correctly could cost lives, given the significant fire risk they pose.' According to research by Haypp, an online nicotine retailer, 82% of disposable vape users are planning to stockpile. The ban is designed to reduce youth vaping and tackle the environmental damage caused by millions of the devices being thrown away each week. Retailers have been told to clear remaining stock and ensure leftover products are disposed of safely. Material Focus, a non-profit focused on improving electrical recycling in the UK, said 5 million disposable vapes were incorrectly discarded each week in the UK in 2024 – nearly four times higher than the previous year. Many contain lithium-ion batteries, posing fire risks and leaching toxic chemicals into the environment when binned incorrectly. Scott Butler, the executive director of Material Focus, said: 'Thirteen vapes every second are being incorrectly gotten rid of, and that's a huge environmental pollution problem. The liquid in many vape batteries is toxic and could run into waterways, as well as harm animals. It's also a significant fire risk because lithium batteries are known to cause fires when crushed with general waste.' 'Vapes are a huge environmental pollution problem, so we hope the ban goes some way to reducing waste,' he added. Disposables are also the most common device used by children who vape, with more than 20% of UK children having tried vaping, according to Action on Smoking and Health (ASH). The devices are often sold in sweet flavours and brightly coloured packaging, which campaigners say appeal to underage users. Under the new rules, only vapes that are rechargeable, refillable and fitted with a replaceable coils (the heating element) will be allowed. Experts worry the industry may have already found ways to sidestep the UK government's ban, while cheaper vape imports rerouted from the US risk pushing down prices further. There are also concerns that new US tariffs on Chinese imports may increase cheap vape shipments to the UK, making enforcement of the ban more difficult. Hazel Cheeseman, the deputy chief executive of ASH, said: 'There's already a sizeable illegal market. Whether the disposable vapes ban makes that risk greater, I guess that depends on how quickly the legitimate retailers are making products available to people that suit their needs. 'People don't necessarily want to go looking for illegal products if they can buy legitimate products in their local corner shop or supermarket that meet their needs, why would they go off looking for dodgy ones?' There are also concerns about policing the vapes at borders and ports, said Kate Pike, the lead officer for vaping at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, who stressed that stronger import controls would be essential. 'We have extra funding to do more at ports and borders … From our point of view, it's important, because obviously it makes a big difference if we can stop [illegal vapes entering the country],' she said.
Sky News
3 days ago
- Business
- Sky News
Why stockpiling vapes could be dangerous - as ban on disposables nears
Why you can trust Sky News A ban on disposable vapes comes into force tomorrow, with a warning issued about the "life-threatening dangers" of stockpiling. From Sunday it will be illegal for any business to sell or supply, or have in their possession for sale, all single-use or disposable vapes. Online nicotine retailer Haypp said 82% of the 369 customers they surveyed plan to bulk purchase the vapes before they are no longer available. But the vapes contain lithium batteries and could catch fire if not stored correctly. While more than a third (34%) of people surveyed by Haypp said they would consider buying an illegal vape after the ban, the overall number of people using disposable products has fallen from 30% to to 24% of vapers, according to Action on Smoking and Health. Shops selling vapes are required to offer a "take back" service, where they accept vapes and vape parts that customers return for recycling - including single use products. The Local Government Association (LGA) led the call for a ban two years ago, due to environmental and wellbeing concerns, and is warning people not to stockpile. Cllr David Fothergill, chairman of the LGA's Community Wellbeing Board, said: "Failing to store disposable vapes correctly could cost lives, given the significant fire risk they pose." How disposable vapes catch fire - or even explode Figures obtained by the Electric Tobacconist, via Freedom of Information requests, found an increase in vape related fires - from 89 in 2020 to 399 in 2024. Many disposable vapes use cheap, or even unregulated lithium-ion batteries, to keep the costs down. These batteries often lack proper safety features, like thermal cut offs, making them more prone to overheating and catching fire. If the battery is damaged, or overheats in any way it can cause thermal runaway - a chain reaction where the battery's temperature rapidly increases, causing it to overheat uncontrollably. 0:49 Then, once these fires start start, they are very hard to stop. Water alone can make things worse if the battery is still generating heat, so they require specialised fire suppressants to put them out. Batteries can then re-ignite hours, or even days later, making them a persistent hazard. Disposable vapes are a hazard for waste and litter collection and cause fires in bin lorries, even though customers have been warned not to throw them away in household waste. They are almost impossible to recycle because they are designed as one unit so the batteries cannot be separated from plastic. Some 8.2 million units were thrown away, or recycled incorrectly, every week prior to the ban. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said usage among young vapers remained too high, and the ban would "put an end to their alarming rise in school playgrounds and the avalanche of rubbish flooding the nation's streets". Circular economy minister Mary Creagh said: "For too long, single-use vapes have blighted our streets as litter and hooked our children on nicotine. That ends today. "The government calls time on these nasty devices." 'One in five say they will return to cigarettes' Separate research by life insurance experts at found two in five people (37%) planned to stop vaping when the ban starts. Nearly one in five (19%) said they would return to cigarettes once the ban comes into force. The research was based on the answers of 500 UK adults who currently vape.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Number of council tax dodgers soars to highest level since 2009
The number of households not paying their council tax has risen to 4.4 million, the highest amount in 14 years. Research by Debt Justice, a campaign group, found the figure increased by 40pc last year, from 3.2 million in 2023. It amounts to the largest number of households in council tax arrears since 2009, when the global financial crash wiped out families' savings. In total, taxpayers owed around £6bn to cash-strapped local authorities last year, up from £5.5bn the year prior. Councils are already facing a £2.3bn funding gap this year, according to the Local Government Association. Campaigners said the figures show local authorities should focus on the 'growing crisis' of tax arrears rather than increasing council tax. Nine in ten town halls increased the tax by the maximum 5pc this year, bringing the average cost of a Band D property to £2,280. And a nationwide clampdown on second home owners has left them being charged double council tax. The premium, which has been introduced by more than 200 councils, means the average bill on a second home is £3,672. Telegraph Money is campaigning for the levy to be abolished. John O'Connell, of lobby group the TaxPayers' Alliance said: 'With a record 4.4m people now in council tax debt, town hall bosses should be focusing on helping struggling households, not hammering second homeowners with punitive premiums. 'Hiking taxes on one group won't solve the growing crisis facing millions of others.' Earlier this year, The Telegraph revealed that Labour councils are chasing almost twice as much unpaid council tax as Conservative-led authorities. Our analysis showed councils are already chasing £4.4bn in unpaid taxes. Of this, more than £2.5bn was owed to councils run by Labour, compared to £673m owed to Tory councils. Debt Justice highlighted that people who miss a council tax payment are generally from the poorest households. The Government is currently considering a ban on the use of bailiffs to chase arrears and will publish a consultation later this year. Andrew Dixon, of campaign group Fairer Share, said: 'I am deeply concerned by Debt Justice's recent findings. This alarming increase underscores the urgent need to reform our outdated and regressive council tax system.' Councillor Adam Hug, housing spokesman for the LGA said: 'All councils make every effort to collect the that which is owing to them and 96 per cent of council tax is collected in the year in which it is due. 'When there are instances of unpaid council tax, it is often due to complex circumstances or people already facing hardship, and local authorities seek to work with individuals to work out a payment plan and avoid them lapsing into debt.' The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government was contacted for comment.
The Independent
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Social care leaders warn of tough times without ‘significant new funding'
The coming months for people needing social care are likely to be 'the most difficult we've seen in recent years' unless significant new funding is announced soon, almost 100 leaders in the sector have warned. Next month's spending review is a 'crucial opportunity' for the Government to show its commitment to the future of adult social care, the leaders said in a statement to the Chancellor. Rachel Reeves will deliver her review, setting out plans for spending and key public sector reforms, on June 11. The call comes just weeks after the formal launch of the Casey Commission, which the Government ordered with an aim of transforming social care. The first phase of the review, led by Baroness Casey, is expected to report next year, although recommendations from the initial probe will be implemented in phases over the course of 10 years. Social care leaders have already raised concerns over the potential timeline of 2036 for some reforms to be introduced. The second phase of the commission, setting out longer-term reforms, is due to report by 2028. A statement to Ms Reeves, published on Thursday, has been signed by dozens of sector leaders, including the Local Government Association, which represents councils providing care, as well as Mencap, Carers UK and the Homecare Association. In it, they said: 'Despite the best efforts of councils, care providers, the voluntary sector and the workforce, we all know that adult social care is not operating at its best. ' People who have cause to draw on support know that best of all. Report after report shows the consequences of under-investment over many years – on people, families, communities, businesses and other public services.' Referencing the Casey Commission, they said, 'resolving the long-term requires stability in the short-term and strong foundations from which to take forward meaningful reform'. They said while previous governments have sought savings and efficiencies to help plug immediate gaps, 'the scope for those is now extremely limited and the clear reality is that current funding levels are insufficient to tackle the challenges facing the sector, such as inflation, demography, workforce recruitment and retention, the inability to invest in prevention, and provider instability'. They added: 'Without significant new funding in the spending review, the coming months will likely be the most difficult we've seen in recent years for all parts of the sector and – most important of all – for people who draw on care and support.' Recently published analysis by the Health Foundation think tank suggested a minimum of £3.4 billion will be required to meet the growing need for social care by 2028/29 to avoid a further deterioration in the sector. The think tank also called on the Government to 'signal its commitment' ahead of the upcoming spending review with a 'down payment on the investment needed for reform'.
