WEST Dunbartonshire Council has become the latest local authority to join a national campaign aiming to ban disposable vapes.

At a full council meeting on Wednesday, a motion was raised by David McBride, councillor for Dumbarton, calling on the authority to show its support for a ban on single-use vapes.

The campaign was first launched earlier this year by environmental campaigner Laura Young.

It has received backing from ten Scottish councils including Falkirk, North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, East Lothian, Dundee, Glasgow City, Moray, East Dunbartonshire, and Argyll & Bute.

Councillor McBride told the Reporter that disposable vapes are becoming “an environmental problem”.

He said: “While vapes are a very popular alternative to smoking cigarettes, single-use vapes are increasingly becoming an environmental problem.

“There is an estimated excess of 400k single-use vapes thrown away each week in Scotland.

“There is 10 tonnes of lithium being discarded each year, which is the equivalent to the batteries inside 1,200 electric cars.

"This is a valuable material that is lost which could have been recycled. This is also a public health issue as discarded vapes present a leak risk of toxic chemicals and microplastics which are harmful to children, pets, and water systems.

“Vaping may be helpful for those attempting to stop smoking. However, this growing habit should aim to be environmentally friendly.

“I moved the motion so our council strongly backs a ban on the sale of single-use vapes and improved recycling of vapes and other waste electrical & electronic equipment by the sector. 

“We call on the Scottish Government to legislate for this in the near future.”

Reacting to the news Laura Young added: "Great to have West Dunbartonshire Council join the ban disposable vapes campaign.

"They will be following other Scottish councils in writing to the Government to ask them to ban disposable vapes in Scotland.

"Thank you, David McBride, for putting this forward."

Single-use vapes are ready to use immediately and last for around 600 puffs.

They are powered by small batteries containing materials that can be hazardous if not disposed of correctly.

In January an urgent review of the environmental impacts and management of disposable vapes was commissioned by the Scottish Government – it will be led by Zero Waste Scotland.

The government notes that disposable smoking devices have been linked to issues including litter, plastic waste, and fire risk.