California could ban the sale of disposable vapes under a bill aimed at curbing plastic pollution in the state, reported the Associated Press. California’s proposal, announced by lawmakers last week, would reportedly target vapes that are meant to be thrown away after a single use.

“Other countries have considered or approved bans on single-use vape sales, with one taking effect in Belgium on January 1 and another set to begin in the United Kingdom in June. But California would likely be the first U.S. state to enact such a rule. Previous efforts in California and New York have failed,” wrote AP.

The California bill would ban the sale or distribution of new or refurbished disposable vapes in the state, beginning January 1, 2026, reported ABC News. “The proposal would allow local governments or the state to fine people $500 for their first violation of the ban, $1,000 for their second infringement and $2,000 for subsequent offenses.”

Assembly member Jacqui Irwin, who authored the bill, reportedly said it will help prevent battery acid from single-use vapes from leaching into lands and waterways. Waste from e-cigarettes can contain heavy metals, hazardous lithium-ion batteries that can spark fires and chemical toxins, according to the CDC.

The state has approved other measures in recent years regulating vape sales. Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law in 2020 that banned the sale of most flavored tobacco products with the goal of preventing their use among children, reported AP.

Over the summer, Australia introduced tougher anti-vaping laws, which restrict the sale of vaping products to pharmacies only. Users need to present a doctor’s prescription to a pharmacist to buy vapes, and the choice is limited to three flavors: mint, menthol and tobacco.