A motion calling on East Lothian Council to write to the Scottish Government to encourage it to ban disposable vapes has been supported by councillors.

The motion was put forward at yesterday’s council meeting by Scottish Greens councillor Shona McIntosh (Musselburgh ward) who claimed the environmental impact of disposable vapes was a major concern.

She said: “What people often forget is that these disposable vapes are an electrical appliance. They have a battery.

“The environmental impact of these vapes is very concerning as we are seeing them left lying about in our streets.

“Disposable vapes are adding an increased pressure on our council. We are having to deal with increased littering, waste disposal and fire.

"Our public health and education services may also start feeling the strain with increasingly young users.

“I understand that vaping does help some people quit smoking and in those cases vapes are obviously the lesser of two evils.

READ MORE: Musselburgh councillor calls on Scottish Government to ban vapes

“I am not calling for the ban of all vapes, just disposable vapes."

Councillor Brooke Ritchie (Preston/Seton/Gosford ward) also expressed concerns about how disposable vapes were impacting younger users.

She said: “I think the impact this is having on the younger generation is a concern.

“How deep the addiction is for young people is deeply concerning and needs to be addressed.

“I know of people having to get up in the middle of the night to vape just to not face the withdrawal symptoms the next morning.”

Councillor Kenny McLeod (Tranent, Wallyford & Macmerry ward) abstained from the vote, saying he had not heard enough evidence to suggest that banning vapes would be beneficial.

He said: “There are a lot of responsible people out there who use these vapes and do so responsibly.

“It is those who are acting irresponsibly that are an issue.

“Until I hear more evidence to support the need for banning them I am not in a position to say whether I am for or against the motion and therefore will be abstaining from the voting.”

The remaining councillors voted in favour of passing the motion unanimously and the council will now write to the Scottish Government to call for the ban.