An Angus teen has warned that disposable vapes are “everywhere” in the region – and he may have a solution.
18-year-old Marcus Flucker said using disposable has become “the done thing” for Angus teens.Â
There have been concerns over a growing disposable vape problem in Scotland.
Dundee-based climate activist and influencer, Laura Young, has been fighting to get disposable, single-use vapes banned.
In January this year, the Scottish Government launched a review into the environmental impact of single-use vapes.
This review, led by Zero Waste Scotland, “could” lead to a ban.
But in the meantime, what can we do to fight the single-use menace?
Just how bad is it?
Disposable vapes are brightly coloured devices people use for inhaling nicotine-containing vapour.
Many see single-use vapes as a cheaper alternative to regular vapes, though they are damaging to the environment.
They pile up as litter on the streets, and they pose a fire risk at recycling centres.
Ten tonnes of lithium is lost every year when people throw away their disposable vapes. This wasted lithium is enough to power 1,200 electric cars.
Angus teens, according to Marcus, do not know how bad disposable vapes are for the environment.
“Young people care about the environment,” he said.
“If they learned how bad vapes are for the environment, maybe it would discourage them [from vaping].”
Marcus, a Youth MSYP for Angus South, said that there is a vape shop in every small town in his constituency.
“I think that speaks volumes about how prevalent they have become.”
Data released last month in The Scottish Government’s Health and Wellbeing Census 2021-22 paints a worrying picture.
10.1% of S4 students and 4.3% of S2 students surveyed reported using e-cigarettes once a week or more.
So how do we tackle this growing epidemic?
Work with young people, not against them
The key, says Marcus, is involving young people in the vape review.
He fears teens would ignore a disposable vape ban if not involved in the process.
“Young people would not inherently object to a ban,” he said, “but they would object to a ban that they weren’t involved in designing.”
For Angus MYSP Marcus – and his Cumbernauld counterpart, Emma Prach – a vape ban would only work if the Scottish Government listen to young people.
They have written to Scottish circular economy minister Lorna Slater, to ask for the Scottish Government to involve young people in the review.
“Although there are a lot of people advocating for a ban,” Marcus said, “we don’t know if that’s what young people would make use of, and whether that would be effective or not.
“It’s fair to assume that young people are the largest users of single-use disposable vapes, and so to cut them out of the conversation would be a big mistake.
“The solution that [the Scottish Government] presents, whether that is a ban, or increased recycling, or whatever, it has to work for young people.”
Tobacco Action Plan to come
Circular economy minister Lorna Slater thanked the pair for their letter.
The Scottish Government will “consider the evidence and expert advice” after Zero Waste Scotland completes its review in May.
She added: “Our refreshed Tobacco Action Plan will be published later this year, and will include actions on reducing smoking and vaping among children and young people.
“These actions will be informed by young people’s views, experiences and of those organisations who work with them.”
Conversation