The Scottish government is considering banning single-use vapes over environmental concerns.
Scotland’s first minister Humza Yousaf said the evidence on the environmental impacts of vapes is “undeniable.”
“From litter on our streets, to the risk of fires in waste facilities, there are issues which demand action,” he added.
Subscribe to Sustainability Beat for free
Sign up here to get the latest sustainability news sent straight to your inbox everyday
This year’s Programme for Government outlined a commitment to take action to reduce vaping among non-smokers and young people and to tackle the environmental impact of single-use vapes, including consulting on a proposal to ban their sale and other appropriate measures.
The moves follow research that found that up to 26 million disposable vapes were consumed and thrown away in Scotland in the last year, with 10% being littered and more than half disposed of incorrectly.
With millions of vapes littered every year, the Scottish government says there is a significant and increasing cost to local authorities through litter clear up and waste management.
Following a request of Scottish ministers, the circular economy minister and public health minister will meet with counterparts in the UK government, Welsh government and Northern Ireland Executive to discuss the findings of recent research and potential policy responses.
“Of course, this is not just an issue for Scotland – these problems are being experienced all over the UK and we will soon be holding discussions on potential solutions,” said Yousef.
The consultation on the proposed ban will be held in the next year.
What about vape recycling infrastructure?
A UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) spokesperson told Sustainability Beat that there should be a “focus on better infrastructure for recycling single-use vapes and better education on the recycling of these products for consumers.
“Over 250 people die every day in the UK from smoking and cigarettes cost the NHS around £2.6 billion every year; vapes are proven to be the most effective tool in helping smokers quit and to my knowledge no one has ever died from vaping,” they continued.
“It is critical we take action to protect the environment, but outlawing one of the most popular and convenient alternatives to combustible tobacco would increase smoking rates, especially among low-income vapers who rely on affordable disposables as an initial step away from cigarettes,” the spokesperson added.
