Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Disposable Vapes: Environmental Impact

29 November 2022 · 4 other contributors · 7,780 words

Opened by Kirsten Oswald SNP East Renfrewshire

Responding minister: Not recorded

ScotlandEnvironment

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Kirsten Oswald raised concerns about disposable vapes: environmental impact in Westminster Hall. Response awaited from government.

Key points

  • The environmental impact of disposable vapes is significant, with over half being discarded as waste.
  • Disposable vapes contribute to littering in parks, town centres, and beaches across the UK.
  • The UK Government is urged to address this issue by improving recycling guidance and waste regulations.

Key requests to Government

The UK Government should urgently address the environmental impact of disposable vapes by implementing clearer recycling guidance and reforming waste electrical and electronic equipment regulations to ensure proper disposal of these devices.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Kirsten Oswald SNP East Renfrewshire

The environmental impact of disposable vapes is significant, with more than half being thrown in the bin and two disposed every second. The proliferation of these products has led to widespread littering, impacting parks, town centres, and beaches. The issue affects Scotland annually, with an estimated 13.6 million disposable vapes bought each year. Health concerns are also raised regarding young people's vulnerability to nicotine addiction and the potential move towards tobacco use.

Other contributors (4)
  • Chris Stephens SNP Glasgow South West

    Acknowledged the importance of vaping for smoking cessation but expressed concerns about young people taking up vaping without a history of smoking. Cited statistics from surveys indicating an increase in youth vaping.

  • Gareth Johnson Con Dartford

    Congratulates the hon. Lady on securing the debate, highlights that vaping has saved thousands of lives in the country, and stresses the importance of not tarnishing the reputation of vaping to discourage smokers from switching to it. Gareth Johnson, though not intending to speak, addressed Kirsten Oswald's points about the risks associated with vaping. He argued that moving people from smoking tobacco to vaping is beneficial due to the 95% reduced risk compared to traditional cigarettes. Johnson highlighted the positive impact of vaping on public health and opposed the idea of getting rid of disposable vapes.

  • John McNally Lab Glasgow N.E.

    Vape waste is becoming a significant environmental issue, particularly among young people who treat vapes as fashion accessories and litter them everywhere. The UK discards approximately 13.6 million disposable vapes annually in Scotland alone, equivalent to two thrown away per second. McNally advocates for stricter regulations such as automatic penalties like points on driving licences for littering vapes or banning brightly coloured packaging.

  • Ruth Jones Lab Newport West and Islwyn

    Ms. Ruth Jones expressed concern about the environmental impact of disposable vapes, noting that their use has surged over recent years with half a billion purchased annually. She highlighted statistics indicating 1.3 million disposable vapes are thrown away weekly, equating to two every second, and noted the inadequacies in waste collection and recycling systems.

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