´óÏó´«Ã½

The sale and supply of single use vapes will be banned in Northern Ireland by April 2025.

Environment Minister Andrew Muir said while the timeline was "extremely ambitious", he recognised "strong support" for a ban.

Across the UK, an estimated five million single use vapes are thrown away or incorrectly disposed of weekly.

Analysis of litter in NI found vapes contribute as much to litter totals as single use cups and food waste.

The minister said there had been an "alarming" rise.

"Single use vape waste introduces plastic, nicotine salts, metals and lithium-ion batteries into the environment and can have a devastating impact on our environment and biodiversity.

"It's estimated that as many as five million single use vapes are simply thrown away in residual bins or littered every week across the UK, rather than being recycled."

A single use vapes working group has been formed between Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.

Under current plans, each nation will progress its own legislation and have agreed to work towards a joint coming into force date of 1 April 2025.

In the 2023 UK government consultation, 90.4% of individual respondents from Northern Ireland agreed there should be restrictions on the sale and supply of single use vapes and 84.9% agreed that restrictions should take the form of a ban on their sale and supply.

The Northern Ireland head of the Asthma + Lung UK charity welcomed the announcement of the ban as a "huge win" for lung health.

"Single use vapes are increasingly visible in our schools, hooking our children on nicotine and littering our streets," said Joseph Carter.

"This year we surveyed a thousand people in Northern Ireland and over 80% said they are concerned about children and young people vaping with no history of smoking and the use of vapes in schools.

"If you're a smoker and you want to quit tobacco, vaping can be a helpful way to give up smoking.

"But for children and those who don't smoke, starting to vape isn't a good idea, especially if you have a lung condition."