Key Points
- Germany’s environment minister supports banning disposable e-cigarettes.
- Safety risks include explosions at waste processing facilities.
- The Bundestag has asked the government to assess a ban.
- From July 2025, e-cigarettes can be returned to retail outlets in Germany.
- Belgium, France, and the UK have already banned disposable vapes.
2Firsts, December 30, 2025 – According to dpa,German Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider has voiced strong support for banning disposable e-cigarettes, describing it as his “very clear preference.”
Schneider cited concerns related to health, environmental protection, and disposal safety. He warned that disposable e-cigarettes can explode when entering waste processing facilities, posing risks to workers and causing environmental damage.
In November, the Bundestag requested that the federal government assess the feasibility of banning disposable e-cigarettes, following a motion introduced by the CDU/CSU and SPD parliamentary groups. The Bundesrat has previously supported a ban, though the federal government raised legal concerns.
Several European countries, including Belgium, France, and the United Kingdom, have already enacted bans on disposable e-cigarettes.
From July 2025, consumers in Germany will be able to return e-cigarettes at all retail locations where they are sold. However, no deposit system is planned. Environmental organizations argue that the lack of incentives limits the effectiveness of returns and continue to advocate for a ban.
According to estimates from industry association BfTG, German consumers are expected to spend approximately €2.4 billion on e-cigarettes in 2025, with about one-tenth attributed to disposable products and the remainder to rechargeable and refillable devices.
Consumer and environmental groups have also highlighted the loss of valuable raw materials, such as lithium-cobalt oxide from built-in lithium-ion batteries, used in disposable e-cigarettes.
Image source: dpa
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