Disposable vapes - banned!

For the last three years we've been involved in trying to clean up Leeds Festival.

Ranging from rolling our sleeves up and physically helping to salvage left behind items that we have distributed to local community groups, to advocating for Leeds Festival to change how it handles the event via the Licensing Committee. This is something that Izaak has been especially involved in.

Here's the write up from 2023 for example.

An outsized part of the waste has been disposable vapes. They're small, but there's a lot of them, and they can't be reused. They pollute our landscape - how often do you see one lying on the pavement? - and the batteries use precious lithium metal.

Now we're so pleased to hear that the Labour government has done what the last government failed to and banned these unnecessary items from Sunday 1st June.

In addition, from the BBC:

"The government's Tobacco and Vapes Bill - which is currently making its way through Parliament - will outlaw vape advertising and sponsorship.

It will also restrict the flavours, packaging and display of vapes and other nicotine products.

Children have been targeted with colours, branding and flavours such as bubble gum or candy floss, to push a product that can lead to nicotine addiction, the British Medical Association has warned.

The government is also cracking down on illegal vapes, which are widely available and are much more likely to contain other harmful chemicals or drugs."

Read more here