City of Wolverhampton Council is reminding high street shops and stores that from Sunday, June 1, it will be illegal to sell or supply single-use or disposable vapes.

Trading Standards officers are warning businesses that after this date it will be against the law to sell these types of vapes to shoppers, and any items not sold before then must be disposed of safely.

The ban includes all single-use or disposable vapes which are not refillable and use a battery which cannot be recharged. It will come into force on the same day across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.  

The Government is introducing the ban to try and tackle a number of issues that affect public health and safety. Single-use vapes can pose health risks and are often discarded as litter or thrown into regular waste bins, which increase the risk of fires.

Discarded vapes introduce harmful substances into the soil, rivers and streams, and causes harm to biodiversity. When single-use vapes are thrown into regular bins they often end up in landfill or are incinerated, meaning critical resources are lost. They can also cause fires, risking the safety of waste management workers, firefighters and the public.

Trading Standards officers are currently working with partners including the council’s licensing team and representatives from the police and fire service to make sure shops across the city prepare for the change in the law.

Officers are carrying out visits and sharing information leaflets and will also be reminding businesses to run down existing stocks before June 1.

They will also be carrying out inspections after the ban has come into force to ensure that businesses are adhering to the new laws. Action will be considered against businesses who don’t comply.

Any business continuing to supply single-use vapes after June 1 will risk the stock being seized. They may also face being fined or prosecuted.

Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, cabinet member for resident services at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “Single-use vapes have become a familiar sight in our communities and, unfortunately, they can cause a number of problems, from littering and environmental damage to health and fire risks.

“We want to see city businesses trading successfully and it is vital that they pay attention to the new law and stop selling single-use or disposable vapes from June 1.

“This will hopefully help to reduce the amount of these products we see discarded in our streets and parks. As well as looking unpleasant, these items can have a hugely damaging effect on our environment and wildlife as they leak poisonous chemicals.

“I would encourage all businesses that have been selling single-use vapes to make sure they take advice from our officers and pay attention to the new legal requirements.”

Businesses looking for advice on how to comply with the law in this area can find out more at Ditch single-use vapes as ban deadline looms - GOV.UK.

Anyone who has concerns about the sale of vapes or tobacco products can email Trading Standards at trading.standards@wolverhampton.gov.uk