Streets in Nailsea are being polluted by plastic and toxic chemicals from discarded vapes.

A few weeks ago the Keep Nailsea Litter Free litter pickers found dirty and used vapes among the general muck left lying in our grass verges and gutters.

Discarded vapes contain poisonous substances including plastic, lithium and ­nicotine.

Vets have told how dogs and cats have mistaken them for food, with reports of several deaths, according to a special investigation by the Mirror newspaper.

You can buy three disposable vapes online for £10 which are difficult to recycle

These are especially popular among the 18-34 age group.

England’s chief medical officer attacked the “appalling” marketing of vapes to children and called for a crackdown.

Because they contain valuable materials the devices are classed as ‘waste electrical and electronic equipment’.

They are meant to be disposed of at recycling centres or the shops that sold them.

Nationwide the 1.3m disposable e-cigarettes discarded every week often end up in general waste and their broken batteries are highly flammable

If damaged when dumped, their lithium batteries can cause fires.

The RSPCA told how it has received more than 10,000 calls in the past three years about animals impacted by litter, with a growing number of calls about vapes.

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Throwaway dangers

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The shift from reusable vapes to throwaway items is a step backwards.

Nailsea litter picker John Belton said: “I think it is a serious environmental problem.

“It concerns both general litter and more specifically vapes.

“We are finding several of these lying in the roads and verges around the town and although they might represent the minority of rubbish with most being disposed of in general waste, collectively around North Somerset they probably add up to a significant number.

“Why do regulators, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, non-government organisations and purchasers persistently ignore the warning?”

Mr Belton said the vape box they found warns ‘toxic if swallowed, fatal in contact with skin, harmful if inhaled and harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects’.

As well as the empty box he picked up a collection of squashed vapes and wrappers on a short walk from Clevedon Road near the ambulance station to the supermarket at Wraxall garage.

He added: “The box carries instructions in really tiny writing including warnings.

“Even if humans don't ingest it what about small mammals, amphibians and fish not to mention traces of chemicals left in drinking water after treatment.”

Nailsea Climate Emergency Group warns on its Facebook page:' Please do not bin your vapes with general waste They contain a lithium battery, the packaging and the vape have a little "do not bin" logo printed on them. Try to return them to the retailer that you bought them from (they should accept them) Tesco have a collection system in place at the counter selling smoking products. Other supermarkets should have something similar in place. If all else fails put the complete vape in your supermarket's battery collection bin. They have to collect batteries by law.'

UPDATE: On Saturday morning, June 3, the litter pickers collected six bags filled with rubbish which included a box of seven large gas cylinders containing various quantities of nitrous oxide from the Clevedon Road car park!