Scotland and England to explore ban on disposable vapes
A ban on single-use vaping products is set to be explored by both the Scottish Government and Westminster governments.
It follows a campaign against the cheap e-cigarettes, which contain lithium batteries, because of the threat they pose to the environment.
Zero Waste Scotland will lead the review, which will consider international experience and action.
Humza Yousaf told MSPs on Thursday it would give “consideration” to a potential ban of the devices.
Later the Scottish government said it could also consider increasing access to disposal options, improved product design or publicity campaigns.
In October, the Irish government launched a consultation on banning “wasteful” disposable vape products, citing concerns over littering.
The Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, Ossian Smyth, opened the public consultation on 1st June this year. The consultation closed last month, and feedback will help to inform Ireland’s policy response to dealing with waste disposable vaping devices.
Disposable vapes are electronic cigarettes that are NOT rechargeable. Rechargeable cigarettes are outside the scope of the Irish consultation.
In the UK it is estimated that five million single-use, disposable vapes are thrown away every week.The Westminster Government is also rumoured to be considering ban on sale of single-use vapes, and is expected to open a consultation.
New research from Material Focus found that the number of disposable vapes being thrown away has almost quadrupled from 1.3 million to five million per week in the past year.
