California lawmakers have passed legislation that would ban the sale of disposable, battery-embedded nicotine vapes, sending Assembly Bill 762 to Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk for his signature or veto. The proposed ban aims to address environmental pollution and potential fire hazards associated with the devices.
The bill, approved by state legislators on Wednesday, would prohibit the importation and manufacture of these disposable vapes for sale in California beginning January 1, 2027. Sales of the devices would be prohibited starting January 1, 2028.
Supporters of the bill, including environmental groups like the California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG), have highlighted the detrimental impact of disposable vapes on land and waterways. They argue that these devices often end up as litter, leaching toxic chemicals. CALPIRG stated that the metals, such as lithium and copper wire, contained within the vapes could be better utilized for manufacturing batteries for electric vehicles.
"It is against common sense to pollute our land and water for an electronic product that is used just a few times, serves no beneficial purpose, and creates hazardous waste," said Jenn Engstrom, state director of CALPIRG. "We’re hopeful California will continue to be a leader in waste reduction by prohibiting this unnecessary and harmful product."
Violators of the proposed ban could face infractions and civil penalties. Penalties begin at $500 for a first violation and can escalate to $2,000 for a third or subsequent violation. Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, who introduced the bill, emphasized the need for the governor to consider the threat these devices pose to communities and the costs associated with their cleanup.
"We don’t let other industries design products with embedded fire hazards and walk away when they fail," said Tony Hackett, a policy associate at Californians Against Waste. "AB 762 is simple: if you’re going to sell it in California, you have to design it so it doesn’t explode in someone’s hands—or in a recycling truck."
While traditional smoking rates have declined, the use of electronic cigarettes has grown in popularity, despite ongoing research into the potential health dangers of vaping. The proposed ban focuses on the disposable variety of these products due to their environmental footprint.