RSPCA says that a ban on disposable vapes is 'great news for wildlife'
The Prime Minister said it'll come into force next year, alongside a restrictions to flavours
A ban on disposable vapes has been called 'great news for wildlife' across Lincolnshire and Newark.
It comes from the RSPCA, who have been calling on the Government to protect animals from these devices, that can be a risk of poisoning or fires when they're not disposed of correctly.
The Prime Minister said it'll come into force next year, alongside a restrictions to flavours.
Carrie Stones is from the charity and tells us what the risks are for animals:
"So of course it's great news, not only for children and young people who've been the main drivers, but also - from the RSPCA's perspective - animals and the environments too.
"The truth is that these devices can pose serious risks to the well being of animals and the delicate ecosystems they call home. One of the primary concerns is the waste generated by disposable vapes. The materials used in their production, like plastic metal, can easily find their way into the natural environment and animals whether they're on land, in the oceans or in our skies, unfortunately, they can mistake these discarded vapes for food, or become entangled in the debris and this can lead to suffering, injury and sadly even death.
"We have seen incidents of animals interacting with these devices, likely due to the sweet smelling components, and have seen evidence of ingestion.
"Additionally, the toxic chemicals and heavy metals found in disposable vapes can leach into the environment, contaminating water sources and affecting the delicate balance of ecosystems for aquatic animals such as fish and marine mammals. Ingesting these substances can have devastating consequences for their health and survival, and the batteries within these disposable vapes poses significant risk, because animals can be attracted by the shiny appearance or mistake them for food, leading to internal injuries or even fatalities if the batteries are ingested."
Carrie added that it's for people who use these products to understand the danger they pose to wildlife:
"For us, we would ask members of the public to please switch, in advance of the ban, please switch to reusable vapes wherever possible and also, please get familiar with the guidelines on how to dispose of disposable vapes properly."
Rishi Sunak has set out plans to get rid of disposable vapes to protect children's health.
During a school visit on Monday, the Prime Minister said he is taking "strong action" to "stamp out" youth vaping, following a public consultation on the issue in which almost 70% of respondents were in favour of a ban.
It is already illegal to sell vapes to anyone under 18, but evidence shows disposable vapes - which are cheaper and sold in smaller, more colourful packaging than refillable ones - are driving the rise in youth vaping.
In 2021, only 7.7% of current vapers aged 11 to 17 used disposable vapes, but this increased to 52% in 2022 and 69% in 2023.
Headteachers and parents have expressed concerns over the rise in youth vaping, with data showing 7.6% of 11 to 17-year-olds now vape regularly or occasionally, up from 4.1% in 2020.
Last year, the Government also announced a ban on the sale of cigarettes to anyone born on or after January 1 2009.
Mr Sunak told broadcasters on Monday "some people will disagree with me", adding: "I don't think there's anything unconservative about caring about our children's health.
"But on smoking, there's been a long tradition in Parliament of these being free votes, which aren't party political, people will have their own held views on that, that's the same as it's been in the past.
"So I respect that some people will disagree with me on this but I think this is the right long-term thing for our country. Smoking causes one in four cancer deaths. It's responsible for a hospital admission every minute.
"And if we don't do something about it, hundreds of thousands of people will die in the coming years and I think that we do have a chance to do something about it."
Mr Sunak said the rise in vaping among children is worrying, adding:
"Children shouldn't be vaping, we don't want them to get addicted, we still don't understand the full long-term health impacts of vaping. So it is right we take strong action to stamp this out."
The ban on disposable vapes will use powers already in place under the Environmental Protection Act and is expected to come into force early next year.
Under the new plans, powers will also be introduced to restrict flavours which are specifically marketed at children and ensure that manufacturers produce plainer packaging and change how vapes are displayed in shops, moving them out of children's sight.
New £100 fines will also be brought in for shops in England and Wales which sell vapes illegally to children.
Trading standards officers will be given powers to act "on the spot" to tackle under-age tobacco and vape sales. This builds on a maximum £2,500 fine that local authorities can already impose.
Vaping alternatives - such as nicotine pouches - will also be banned for children.
Some £30 million new funding a year will be provided to bolster enforcement agencies - including Border Force, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and Trading Standards - to implement these measures.
To find out more and how to dispose of vapes correctly go to the RSPCA website.