The mind boggles at the scale of disposable vapes pollution in Scotland just now.
As we report today, on just one beach in one town – Irvine, in Ayrshire – vape pens were picked up in their hundreds by volunteer litter-pickers last week.
Locals estimate they collected at least 500, including 150 in the space of 24 hours at the weekend.
And that’s just a tiny snapshot of the country – now imagine the toll of e-cigs and other litter in every beach, park, green space and beauty spot in Scotland.
We all know the weather has been great and people are enjoying themselves, as they should.
But there is simply no excuse for visitors leaving beautiful places like Irvine beach in a state.
And nasty, single-use plastic vapes, containing hazardous materials such as lithium batteries, e-liquid and wiring, pose a real threat to marine wildlife.
So we desperately urge people sunning themselves along our beautiful coastlines this week to be considerate to local residents and local critters – by taking your rubbish and vapes away with you.
It’s not difficult – and it saves volunteers and council workers untold hours of work cleaning up after you.
However, the frightening levels of disposable vapes litter we see on a daily basis now only serves to reinforce the need for a ban on these unnecessary, polluting devices.
We’ve been campaigning since January for the Scottish Government to outlaw the single-use gadgets.
The outcome of a Holyrood review into the products, including a possible ban, is expected by the end of the month.
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