Council Debates Banning Of Disposable Vapes

Dundee City Council is to debate the issue of banning disposable vapes. This has been raised by Liberal Democrat West End Councillors Michael Crichton and Fraser Macpherson.

Disposable vapes are the latest environmental menace and have been found strewn across the city.  Because they contain ­valuable materials such as lithium batteries and copper, as well as plastic, vapes are classed as Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment. Users are supposed to dispose of them at a household recycling centre or at the shop where they bought the device. Unfortunately many are simply dropped in the street.

They are not straightforward to recycle.  If damaged when thrown away, lithium batteries can cause fires at waste disposal plants.

Councillor Crichton said:

 “Any form of littering is an unacceptable, anti-social behaviour that is damaging to the environment and the economy and these single-use items, like disposable vapes, are becoming an all-too-common eyesore in areas where we live, work, and socialise and can last in our environment for years and years." 

“We really do need to tackle this  throwaway culture and we are asking the council’s Policy and Resources Committee to sign up to the campaign to ban these irresponsible, disposable vapes and lobby Scottish Government and Zero Waste Scotland, who are undertaking a review of this issue for the government, to ensure a ban is implemented." 

"This is not a party-political issue and we hope there will be cross-party support for our call for a ban.”