I was pleased to speak as part of the Environment APPG panel with Selaine Saxby MP and DEFRA Minister Rebecca Pow. I spoke about the health and environmental risks disposable vapes can have and my Ten Minute Rule Bill to prohibit the sale of disposable e-cigarettes and vapes.
With vaping increasing in popularity, and disposable vape usage amongst young people becoming increasingly concerning, there are clear health risks including chronic nicotine addiction. It is also clear that beyond the health effects, there is significant environmental harm.
When single-use vapes are disposed of incorrectly, such as by being littered on our streets, they leak lithium into the ground when the battery case erodes, causing soil and water pollution. Ten tonnes of lithium are sent to landfill every year in this country as a result of disposable vapes.
As someone who cherishes our natural environment and cares deeply about our children's health, I have been raising my concerns in Parliament on the effect that disposable vapes can have on our health and our planet. This includes introducing my Ten Minute Rule Bill on banning disposable vapes. I welcome that the Government has been listening to calls for more to be done on youth vaping and has launched a call for evidence. It is vital to reduce the number of children accessing and using vape products and I will continue to work with Ministers across Government to explore where the Government can go further.
