By Timothy s. Donahue

Top Takeaways:

• Environmental push: Germany preparing legislation targeting single-use vapes
• Battery concerns: Officials cite fires at waste facilities linked to discarded devices
• European trend: Germany joins growing list of countries targeting disposable ENDS products

Germany is preparing legislation that would effectively ban disposable e-cigarettes, adding Europe’s largest economy to the growing list of governments targeting single-use vaping products due to environmental and safety concerns.

According to German officials, the federal government, under Environment Minister Carsten Schneider, is expected to introduce the proposed legislation in the coming months.

Schneider said the push is largely driven by rising fire risks and electronic waste concerns associated with disposable vape devices.

German authorities have linked a growing number of fires at recycling and waste-processing facilities to improperly discarded lithium-ion batteries from single-use e-cigarettes.

Officials warned the batteries can ignite when crushed during waste sorting and processing operations, creating dangers for workers, infrastructure and emergency responders.

The proposal also aligns with broader European environmental goals focused on reducing electronic waste and improving recycling efficiency.

Disposable vapes have increasingly become a target for regulators across Europe because the products combine plastic, electronics, lithium batteries, and nicotine-containing components into devices that are often discarded after only brief use.

Germany’s move follows similar actions elsewhere in Europe.

France approved legislation earlier this year banning disposable e-cigarettes, and the United Kingdom is also moving toward restrictions on single-use vape products starting in 2027.

Belgium has also tightened broader vaping rules, including recently approving restrictions on flavored vape products that take effect in 2028.