From the first of June, Scotland has introduced a landmark ban on single-use vapes, following years of tireless campaigning by environmental and health advocates.
Organisations such as Keep Scotland Beautiful, the Marine Conservation Society, and ASH Scotland, along with environmental scientist Laura Young, first urged the Scottish Government to take action in 2022.
Their concerns were clear.
Disposable vapes are wasteful, harmful to health, and devastating for the environment.
In the UK alone, almost five million single-use vapes were being discarded or littered every week last year.
That equates to eight every second.
The popularity of these throwaway devices among young people also surged in recent years.
Between 2018 and 2022, the use of e-cigarettes by children in Scotland rose sharply, fuelled by the availability of colourful and sweet-flavoured disposable vapes.
Evidence gathered by Keep Scotland Beautiful showed these products had become Scotland’s fastest-growing litter type.
Half of Scots reported seeing them more frequently in public spaces over the past year.
The Marine Conservation Society’s volunteers also witnessed a stark rise.
Their Source to Sea litter surveys found vapes on 85 percent of sites in 2024, up from 46 percent the previous year.
These surveys cover streets, parks, and beaches, revealing just how widespread the problem had become.
Barry Fisher, Chief Executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, expressed pride in the collaborative effort behind the ban.
“We first noticed this issue in 2022 when our volunteers and the public began flagging the growing number of vapes littering our environment,” he said.
“Our surveys showed how serious the problem was becoming.
“This ban will help remove one of the fastest-growing sources of litter from our streets and natural spaces.
“But we must all continue to dispose of waste responsibly.”
Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, described the ban as a crucial step in tackling youth vaping.
“These cheap disposable e-cigarettes are often a gateway product for young people.
“The new regulations are welcome, but we urge the government to go further,” she said.
“Stronger restrictions on advertising, packaging, and flavours are essential to stop these industries targeting children with addictive and harmful products.”
For the Marine Conservation Society, the ban represents a significant victory for campaigners and young environmentalists.
“Our Youth Ocean Network members and volunteers have worked tirelessly to highlight this issue,” said Catherine Gemmell, Policy and Advocacy Manager.
“Littered vapes can leak chemicals and microplastics into the environment, threatening marine life.
“We have seen from other measures, like the single-use carrier bag charge, that bans like this can be highly effective.”
Environmental scientist and campaigner Laura Young called today’s change a landmark moment.
“Single-use vapes should never have become normal in the first place,” she said.
“They symbolise a throwaway culture that we urgently need to change.
“We must now address other disposable electronics and hold industries accountable for creating products designed for the bin.
“Scotland is leading by example.”
As the ban takes effect, campaigners hope it will mark the beginning of a wider move towards a circular economy where reuse and repair take priority over waste.
