According to a Scottish government report, up to 2.7 million single-use vapes were left lying around in Scotland last year.
Since there are more and more worries about their impact on the environment, Zero Waste Scotland was asked to produce an urgent review.
It offers nine alternatives, from outright prohibition to repurposing disposable vapes to make them easier to recycle.
The Scottish government praised the report and promised a thorough response in the coming months.
According to the study, there are currently 543,000 e-cigarette users in Scotland, and if nothing is done, that number will increase to 900,000 by 2027.
It states that more young people use vapes than smoke cigarettes, with 22 percent of all people under the age of 18 (or roughly 78,000) believed to have used one last year.
It is estimated that 25 or younger users make up two-thirds of all users.
Ministers have the option of banning only flavor-based single-use vapes, which are more appealing to younger people, or all single-use vapes.
However, it comes with a warning that caution must be exercised to prevent rechargeable vapes from being used as disposable items, which would add to waste.
The report issues a warning that a ban might be subject to the Internal Market Act, requiring approval from the UK government.
Additionally, it suggests a deposit/return option in which customers would receive a refund after returning the item to the store for recycling.
Following a campaign by environmentalist Laura Young, who had been gathering used vapes while walking her dog in Dundee, the review was initiated.
She called the report "particularly worrying," but added that it provided a thorough analysis of possible responses.
"Partial solutions will only get partial results," she continued. A complete ban must be a part of the solution if we want to completely eliminate the unintended effects of disposable vapes on public health and the environment. ".
Single-use vapes should not be disposed of in the trash or recycling because they contain batteries.
The fact that they should be handled as electrical waste makes it difficult for many users to know what to do with them.
They are accepted in specialized bins in some stores and at council recycling facilities.
The report concludes that sales revenues from grocery stores have doubled in just six months.
More than 25% of all vapes are single-use, and this number rises to more than 50% among people under 25.
Although incentives for switching to reusable vapes could increase manufacturing share in Scotland and the UK, where there is a larger share of the market for making liquid refills, the majority of single-use vapes are made in China, according to the report.
According to the UK Vaping Industry Association, a ban on single-use vapes is not something they are against as long as it doesn't unintentionally lead to the emergence of a black market.
Doug Mutter, who is also a director of the vaping company VPZ, praised the report and urged the Scottish government to be more daring by enacting licensing and restrictions on the distribution of vaping products.
Fundamentally, we are in favor of a ban on these products, he said, but it must be carried out within a framework that is purposeful and integrated, where it is properly policed and safeguards are put in place to prevent the development of a black market for illegal goods.
The biggest problem still exists, though, in that many disposable, unregulated, imported vaping products are easily accessible from local convenience stores, supermarkets, and other general retailers without any age verification checks or controls.
This is a serious issue that jeopardizes the enormous gains made by vaping in improving national health and assisting the nation in achieving its smoke-free goals. ".
The Scottish government expressed gratitude to Zero Waste Scotland for creating the report and promised a comprehensive response in the fall.
Minister for the circular economy Lorna Slater announced that she had invited ministers from other UK governments to discuss the report's findings and possible responses.
This report demonstrates that single-use vapes have developed into a significant issue for our environment, local communities, and young people, she said. Over the upcoming months, I will take action and interact with those affected, including young people.
