Moray Council joins calls for nationwide ban on disposable vapes

Moray Council has joined called for a nationwide ban on disposable vapes.

Leader of the local authority Kathleen Robertson will write to the Scottish and UK governments in a bid to stop the sale of the devices.

A notice of motion on the ban was brought to a meeting of the economic development and infrastructure committee on Tuesday.

There is concern the devices, which should only be sold to over 18s, are being marketed towards children.

Chairman of the committee Marc Macrae, who brought forward the motion, said: “Around 1.3 million disposable vapes are thrown away every week in the UK.

“That’s equivalent to 1,200 electric car batteries or 10 tonnes of lithium.

“It’s disappointing to see the number of units that are just chucked away.

“It’s becoming the new cigarette butt.”

Councillor Dreayk Van Der Horn seconded the move.

He felt there was an “epidemic” of vaping among younger teenagers that was a profitable and “illicit” trade

Mr Van Der Horn said: “There is a risk of fires at waste facilities, and the Marine Conservation Society are finding vapes littering beaches and leaking toxic chemicals into our seas.”

Councillor Paul McBain, who runs a shop in Forres, was unaware of the responsibilities on retailers to offer a returns service for the devices.

Those selling them are supposed to provide a take back scheme or join the distributor one.

However many shops and businesses do not offer that.

Councillor Amber Dunbar felt education would be a better way of persuading young people not to take up vaping.

She said: “If you tell teenagers not to do something they’ll find away.”

China, the country that produces many of the products, has banned their sale, and Mexico is also legislating against them.

Members unanimously agreed to back the motion with the addition that retailers are encouraged to stop selling the devices ahead of any future ban.