Reading and Leeds ban disposables vapes at this year’s festivals

Reading and Leeds Festival have announced that disposable vapes will be banned on-site this year, including them in its list of what you ‘can and can’t bring’.

Taking place across the weekend of August 25 to August 27, the new restrictions on vapes are due to their environmental impact, according to the Reading and Leeds website.

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“They [disposable vapes] pollute the environment and incorrect disposal of these can be hazardous at waste centres,” the regulations read.

Campfires and disposable BBQs have also been prohibited from the festivals, however, refillable vapes are permitted.

Explaining the ban, organisers say according to NME: “This is to support the Air Quality Action Plan and in consideration of local impacts as set out in our Green Nation Charter."

The festival adds: “Anyone seen creating or fuelling a fire, or disposable BBQ will be evicted from the festival site. We have to continue to protect our future on this planet.”

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This year, Glastonbury Festival also introduced the same policy on disposable vapes.

“Do not bring disposable vapes,” the festival told attendees, following Glastonbury's 'reduce, reuse, recycle' policy. “They pollute the environment and can be hazardous at waste centres.”

Every week, 1.3 million disposable vapes are thrown away in the UK – or two every second with industry experts warned of a ‘dramatic rise’ in fires at recycling plants over the past year.

Headliners at this year’s Reading and Leeds festival include Billie Eilish, The Killers and Sam Fender.

Check out the full ‘can and can’t bring’ list here.

Becky Buckle is Mixmag's Multimedia Editor, follow her on Twitter