California lawmakers have passed Assembly Bill 762, a bill banning disposable nicotine vapes across the state. If signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, the law will halt the import and manufacture of these devices by 2027, with a complete retail sales ban taking effect in 2028.
Under the proposed legislation, violators face a \$500 fine. Bill sponsor Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin expressed hope that Governor Newsom will approve the measure, stating, “We are hopeful the governor will recognize the threat these devices pose to our communities and that the costs of cleaning up the mess these devices leave are borne by ratepayers.”
Environmental advocates strongly support the ban, pointing to the ecological damage caused by single-use electronics. Jenn Engstrom, state director of the California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG), noted, “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.”
Supporters cited a 2024 CDC Foundation study showing that Americans discard approximately 500,000 vapes daily. These battery-powered devices frequently end up in landfills, creating fire hazards and leaching toxic chemicals into local waterways. Furthermore, CALPIRG pointed out that the lithium and copper wire used in disposable vapes could instead be redirected to manufacture electric vehicle batteries.
This legislative move follows Proposition 31 in 2022, where California voters approved a ban on flavored tobacco products, including flavored e-cigarettes.
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