Next week will see Orkney council decide whether it should add its voice to the calls from other councils for a ban on single-use vapes.
At a full council meeting next week, councillors will view a motion of notice which says the council should call on the Scottish Government to implement a ban.
Single-use vapes, or e-cigarettes, are cheap to buy and come with an un-rechargeable battery.
The councillor that has put forward the motion, the Greens’ John Ross Scott, said the rise of single-use vapes is the cause of significant littering in the county.
In his motion, he also says the combination of plastics and small lithium batteries makes recycling the waste components difficult.
As part of the motion, he calls for disposal points to be set up at any retailer selling the devices.
Mr Scott is also asking the council to recognise the effect the vapes are having on the county’s children.
Under-age use and litter
Part of his motion asked the council to recognise: “The amount of use by children under the age of 18, which is illegal under current law, and deplores the clear marketing of these products at younger consumers under titles like bubblegum, ice cream and skittles.
“There is also evidence that this use is also happening within school grounds.”
Mr Scott says the council should have its trading standards officers ensure that the enforcement of existing regulations on the control and sale of the vapes are being followed by businesses in Orkney.
As such, he’s also asking for council officers to implement a programme of educational resources to be rolled out in the county’s schools – including upper primary.
Mr Scott’s motion has already been seconded by councillor Stephen Clackson. It has also been supported by councillor Owen Tierney.
If all this sounds familiar, that’s because other councils have already had similar debates.
What are other councils doing?
A number of other Scottish councils – including Moray, Argyll & Bute, Aberdeen City Council and Shetland – have already had this debate and written to either the Scottish or UK Government or both.
Mr Scott said: “The number of discarded used vapes on the streets of Kirkwall and seeing so many young people vaping convinced me that it was worth getting on board the national campaign against single-use vapes.
“This throw-away culture has harm attached to it.
“Already 21 councils have asked the government to ban these vapes. I did not want Orkney to be left out.
“As far as research goes I have spoken to the local education, police and fire chiefs. I’ve also assessed adults’ views on vapes.
“I did this by trying it myself, buying one and using it on a night out with a friend who vapes.
Do vapes help people quit smoking?
“I was stunned, then, by just how many adults vape. Many said vaping had helped them quit smoking.
“That’s a good thing, however, some still smoked and vaped. All understood the nature of the concerns for children.
“Interestingly, few knew there were disposable points for used vapes and only a handful used the bulkier normal vapes.
“I would like to see all the outlets that sell single-use vapes provide an outlet to dispose of used vapes.
“More awareness should be given within schools to the dangers of vaping.”