Beyond Disposable Vapes: UK Vapers Turn to Reusable Kits as Ban Takes Effect

London, June 2025 – Disposable e-cigarettes are officially off the shelves in the UK. As of June 1, 2025, it became illegal to sell single-use vapes nationwide, a move driven by growing alarm over youth vaping and electronic waste. 

Officials noted that underage vaping had reached “alarming” levels in school playgrounds, while millions of plastic vapes were being discarded each week, according to ABC News. 

The ban, announced in late 2024 and now in effect, aims to curb these trends by encouraging smokers and vapers to adopt more sustainable alternatives. Early signs suggest it’s already changing consumer behaviour: the share of young adult vapers (ages 16–24) who mainly use disposable devices plunged from 63% to 35% in the past year, as reported by the BBC, as many began switching to refillable kits even before the ban hit.

Not long ago, disposable “puff bar” vapes were driving a surge in e-cigarette use across Britain. About one in ten UK adults – roughly 5 million people – now use e-cigarettes, and vaping rates are highest among young adults (16–24 year-olds) at about 15–16%, as evidenced by an article in The Guardian. The boom in vaping over the past decade was fueled in part by cheap, candy-flavoured disposables that attracted new users. Remarkably, over 1 million Britons who have never smoked cigarettes took up vaping by 2024, a seven-fold increase in “never-smoker vapers” in just three years. However, that rapid growth is leveling off. New research from University College London indicates that overall vaping prevalence “stalled” between January 2024 and January 2025 after several years of steep rises.

The same study found a sharp drop in disposable usage, particularly among under-25s, coinciding with the announcement of the disposable vape ban. Rather than quitting nicotine, many users are shifting to refillable, rechargeable devices, a trend researchers say is a direct response to the impending ban. In fact, as of early 2025, disposable vapes were no longer the dominant device type among UK vapers, reversing a rapid climb in popularity they had experienced between 2021 and 2023 (ash.org.uk). It’s a dramatic pivot for a market where single-use vapes recently seemed ubiquitous.

A key motivator for the ban is the rise in vaping among children and teens. While vaping is legally age-restricted (18+), the past few years saw a spike in underage usage of flashy disposables. In Great Britain, about 7.2% of 11–17 year-olds were current vapers in 2023–24, up from 4.8% in 2020. By 2024, 15.8% of young adults (16–24) vaped, the highest of any age group, and many had never been smokers to begin with. Health experts warn that nicotine addiction in adolescence can affect concentration and brain development.

“Our young people are becoming quite addicted,” one NHS doctor noted, emphasising that vaping is intended as a quit-smoking aid for adults, not a habit for youth. These concerns have prompted stricter regulation. Besides the ban on disposable products, UK authorities have launched education campaigns and enforcement sweeps to prevent sales to minors. The government is also reviewing marketing and packaging practices that may appeal to young people. Lawmakers argue that eliminating sweet-flavoured throwaway vapes – the products most popular with teens- will remove an on-ramp to nicotine addiction.

“Vaping has helped millions quit smoking… however, high levels of use among young people and growing use among never-smokers is a concern,” explains Prof. Nick Hopkinson of Action on Smoking and Health. The new ban directly targets this issue by making all single-use vapes off-limits, forcing a transition to products less likely to be impulse-bought by kids.

Beyond health worries, disposable vapes created a staggering waste problem. Each single-use device contains a lithium battery, plastic casing, circuit board, and nicotine liquid – most are not designed to be opened or recycled. As vape sales soared, so did the trash: by late 2024, an estimated 8.2 million vapes were being thrown away (or improperly recycled) every week in the UK. That’s about 13 vapes discarded every second, contributing to a growing “avalanche of rubbish” on streets and in landfills.

Environmental groups have sounded the alarm, noting that the lithium in these discarded vapes could otherwise supply batteries for thousands of electric cars each year. Improper disposal also raises fire risks – damaged vape batteries have caused a 50 %+ spike in waste facility fires in some areas.

The UK’s ban on single-use vapes is partly a response to this e-waste crisis. Starting June 1, retailers may only sell e-cigarettes that are rechargeable or have refillable pods or cartridges. By eliminating disposables, officials hope to prevent tens of millions of plastic devices (and their toxic materials) from entering the waste stream each year. “We had to stem the tide of litter and leaky chemicals from disposable vapes,” a Department for Environment spokesman said, calling the ban a victory for both public health and the planet. Some UK vape retailers have also begun offering recycling programs and take-back boxes for used devices, but making vapes reusable by design is seen as the more effective, long-term solution.

For adult vapers and smokers seeking safer nicotine, the end of disposables doesn’t mean the end of vaping. A new wave of reusable vape products is stepping in to fill the void, and Greet Vape is among the retailers helping customers make the switch. These alternatives range from simple pen-style e-cigarettes to high-tech mod kits, all designed to be refilled with e-liquid or have replaceable cartridges, allowing one device to be used for months or years instead of just a day. Below are some of the popular options now gaining traction as disposable replacements:

• Refillable Pod Kits: Small, user-friendly devices with a pod (mini-tank) that you manually refill with bottled e-liquid. They offer a similar draw and nicotine hit to disposables, but you reuse the pod and battery. Examples: the Smok Nord series or Vaporesso XROS pod kits (both available at Greet Vape) are lightweight, compact, and perfect for nicotine salt e-liquids. Refillable pods dramatically reduce plastic waste, and with a wide choice of flavours in bottled juice, they allow users to move beyond the limited flavours that disposables offer.


• Prefilled Pod Systems: Many of the same brands that manufacture disposables now offer prefilled pod kits, which are reusable e-cigarettes that come sealed with the manufacturer’s e-liquid. You simply swap in a new pod when one is empty, while continuing to use the rechargeable battery device. This bridges the gap for those who love the flavour and convenience of disposables. For instance, Elf Bar (known for its single-use vapes) has launched the Elf Bar ELFA Pro pod kit, a rechargeable stick that takes prefilled pods of popular Elf Bar flavours. Similarly, the Lost Mary brand now sells a pod device using its flavour pods. These systems maintain the “no-fuss” appeal, eliminating the need for refilling or coil changes, while also eliminating the need to discard the battery each time.


• Vape Pens & Starter Kits: A classic alternative, vape pen kits are slender rechargeable devices with a refillable tank or cartridge. They have been a mainstay for beginners and ex-smokers for years. Today’s pen-style vapes (like the Innokin Go Z series or Aspire PockeX AIO) are easy to use, affordable, and come with safety features. Users fill them with any e-liquid and replace a small coil every couple of weeks. Vape pens deliver a bit less vapour than disposables or mods, making them comfortable for “mouth-to-lung” vaping that mimics a cigarette puff. They’re an excellent step up from disposables – and far more budget-friendly over time.


• Advanced Mod Kits: For those who want bigger clouds or more control over their vaping, mod kits pair a larger rechargeable battery device (a mod) with a refillable tank. Brands like GeekVape, Voopoo, Smok, and Aspire offer kits that include everything needed to get started. Mods have adjustable power, longer battery life, and use replaceable coil heads in their tanks. While they require a bit more knowledge to operate, they provide superior performance and longevity. A device like the Voopoo Argus Pro 2 or GeekVape Aegis Legend 3 mod kit can last for years, requiring only the occasional replacement of liquid and parts, making it the polar opposite of a disposable vape. These setups are ideal for committed vapers and hobbyists, and with the disposable ban, even some casual users are “graduating” to mods for a more sustainable experience.

Crucially, switching to any of these reusable options can significantly save vapers money. Disposable vapes may be inexpensive per unit, but using them daily can add up. For example, a person who went through four £5 disposables each week would spend over £1,200 per year on vaping.

Refillable devices have higher upfront costs (typically £10–£40 for a starter kit), but e-liquid refills are as little as £3–£6 for a 10ml bottle. A single 10ml bottle contains roughly the same amount of nicotine e-juice as five disposables, yet costs about the same as one disposable vape. Aside from occasionally buying new coils or pods, a refillable vape user’s weekly expense might just be one bottle of juice.

Industry analyses show that this can save hundreds of pounds per year for the average user – one report calculated an annual saving of around £1,000 when switching from daily disposables to a refillable kit. In short, what’s good for the environment by creating less waste also tends to be good for the wallet.

The UK is not alone in clamping down on throwaway vapes. Across Europe and beyond, regulators are targeting disposable products to protect young people and reduce litter. Belgium became the first European country to outlaw disposable e-cigarettes at the start of 2025.

The following month, France enacted its own ban on les “puffs” (as disposables are nicknamed), citing the same concerns about underage use and battery pollution. In Australia, where teen vaping rates were rising, the government went even further. In 2023, it banned all recreational vaping products outside of pharmacies, effectively ending the sale of disposables nationwide. New Zealand has also restricted vaping advertisements and flavours, and is considering environmental measures.

Meanwhile, in the United States, there is no blanket federal ban on disposable vapes, but many states and cities have acted. For instance, California banned sales of flavoured e-cigarettes (which has pushed many fruity disposable brands off the legal market). The U.S. FDA, on its part, has been cracking down on unauthorised importers. In 2023, it issued hundreds of warning letters to retailers selling popular disposable brands like Elf Bar that hadn’t passed the FDA regulatory approval. The trend is clear: around the world, single-use vapes are facing increasing scrutiny, and the industry is being pressured to innovate toward reuse, compliance, and responsibility.

As the dust settles on Britain’s disposable vape ban, the vaping landscape is undergoing a profound shift. Early evidence suggests that most vapers are adapting: rather than quitting nicotine entirely, they are embracing reusable devices, a win for harm reduction (by keeping smokers off cigarettes) that also addresses environmental and social concerns. Greet Vape and other retailers are reporting a rise in demand for starter kits and refillable pods, especially among former disposable devotees.

“More people are turning to refillable, reusable devices rather than stopping vaping altogether,” observed Dr. Sarah Jackson, lead author of the UCL vaping study, as reported by the BBC. Indeed, manufacturers anticipated this pivot. Major disposable brands wasted no time launching rechargeable versions of their products ahead of the ban, ensuring that fans of their flavours could continue vaping in a compliant way.

Will these measures solve the problems they set out to fix? Experts caution that further steps may be needed. Banning the single-use format might not eliminate youth vaping if the same sweet flavours and sleek designs remain available in refillable form. Some public health advocates argue for plainer packaging, limits on nicotine strength, or stricter age verification to complement the ban. Banning disposables “is unlikely to fix the issue” by itself, as popular brands have already launched reusable products with very similar designs and prices, one campaigner noted, urging additional efforts to make e-cigs less appealing. The government has signalled that it will monitor the impacts of the ban closely, both positive and any unintended negative effects (such as potential growth in illicit sales).

For now, the transition away from disposables is a net positive for the UK. Fewer neon-colored vapes are littering the sidewalks, and teens report it’s a bit harder to get their hands on e-cigs. Adult smokers still have ample tools to quit cigarettes, from nicotine patches to modern refillable vapes. The hope is that this new balance, which prioritises vaping for harm reduction, sustainability, and responsibility, can be maintained.

As 2025 unfolds, the UK’s bold stance may well serve as a blueprint for other countries grappling with the disposable dilemma, proving that the vaping industry can innovate beyond single-use convenience toward a more accountable future.