West Dunbartonshire backs disposable vape ban over environmental concerns

Proposals to ban single-use and disposable vapes have been backed by West Dunbartonshire councillors concerned about the impact e-cigarettes are having on the environment.

During the most recent full council meeting a motion, which was unanimously supported, was brought before members by Labour councillor David McBride.

It asked elected members to note that in the UK, 14 million single-use vapes are bought each month and 5.4 million of them are thrown away each week.

The motion read: “This is an economic issue with 10 tonnes of lithium being discarded each year which is the equivalent to the batteries inside 1200 electric cars.

“This is valuable material that is lost which could have instead been recycled. This is also a public health issue as discarded vapes present a leak risk of toxic chemicals and micro plastics which are harmful to children, pets and water systems. Council notes that a number of Scottish Councils have already passed a motion in support of banning the sale of single use vapes.”

The Scottish Government is working on a refreshed Tobacco Action Plan which will be published in this autumn. It will consider a range of interventions with an emphasis on reducing smoking and vaping among children and young people.

It is also carrying out an urgent review on the impact of disposable vapes on our environment in Scotland.

Councillors agreed that the chief executive should write to the circular economy minister Lorna Slater, MSP expressing West Dunbartonshire’s support for a ban on the sale of single-use vapes and improved recycling of vapes and other electronic waste.

Speaking about his motion, councillor McBride added: “Vaping is becoming a very common alternative to smoking. There may be different views on the practice but what this motion highlights is the potential environmental damage it can cause with single-use vapes.

“The Scottish Government tobacco action plan is being reviewed. We want to share the council’s concerns with the Scottish Government minister.”

The motion was unanimously agreed by members.