A recent campaign by Vape Superstore highlights the beach-littering pandemic that has spread throughout the UK.
The statistics released within this campaign describe the amount of complaints regarding beach littering that have been made to local councils between the years of 2023 and 2026.
First place on the list goes to Gwynedd Council, which has experienced a total of 108 beach litter-related complaints in the past three years.
Argyll and Bute feature at number nine on the list, with 26 complaints to the local council regarding this issue.
An Argyll and Bute spokesperson said: “It is desperately sad that anyone would choose to consciously litter Argyll and Bute’s beautiful beaches rather than just take their litter home with them.
“The figures indicate we are seeing a downturn in litter, perhaps based on new legislation banning single-use plastics and vapes, but ultimately it comes down to personal responsibility.
“There are about 3,700km of coastline around Argyll and Bute to protect. Everyone can help; reduce the amount of waste we generate, recycle more, and consider the products we use to stop plastics and microplastics reaching our beaches and endangering aquatic life.
“We really appreciate members of the public who go the extra mile for the environment and support them in their efforts by providing bags, gloves and litter pickers for the beach cleans, and collecting the bags and equipment afterwards.”
You can report concerns on the council’s website: argyllandbute.custhelp.com/app/AS/Beaches.
David Phillips from Vape Superstore mentioned: “It’s disappointing to see so many complaints about litter on UK beaches, particularly where cigarettes and vaping products are involved.
“This type of waste doesn’t just spoil our coastlines, they can also pose a risk to wildlife, pets and young children enjoying the beach.
“Many people don’t realise that retailers selling vapes are legally required to offer a take-back service for used devices. Using these services, or simply taking your rubbish home if bins are full, can help prevent unnecessary pollution.”
The research done within this article was compiled by http://vapesuperstore.co.uk/
