California moves to ban single-use disposable vapes over waste and fire risks

California’s lawmakers have passed Assembly Bill 762, which would make disposable, battery-powered e-cigarettes illegal to produce, sell or distribute in the state if Governor Gavin Newsom signs it. The bill focuses on single-use devices that contain lithium-ion batteries, excluding cannabis vaping products, and mandates that any legal vape be either refillable or use replaceable pods with a rechargeable battery. Advocates cite the massive litter problem—estimated at 500,000 units discarded daily nationwide—and the danger of battery fires in recycling centers, which cause thousands of incidents each year.

Critics, including the Vapor Technology Association and American Vapor Manufacturers, argue the ban could push former smokers back to combustible cigarettes. The legislation reflects growing concerns about youth vaping rates, which have risen sharply among high school students, and the broader environmental impact of discarded vape cartridges.