The use of single use vapes are having an destructive impact on the environment and should be banned, local councils have said.

The Local Government Association has called on the government to ban the sale and manufacture of single use vapes by 2024, because they are hazardous to waste collection.

The organisation represents councils across England and Wales and said the single use e-cigarettes are "impossible to recycle" properly without special treatment. Each one contains pre-filled 2ml cartridge of e-liquid, an internal battery which heats the liquid to turn it into vapour, a mouthpiece and external plastic packaging.

While the organisation is not "anti-vape", it expressed concerns about the effects single use vapes they are having on people's health and the environment. This is because a lot of the vapes are thrown away in general waste bins and are compacted at waste sites, meaning the lithium-ion batteries inside them can heat up and explode, causing a fire.

According to a spokesperson from Leicestershire County Council, there has been an increase in the number of waste fires in recent years due to the increased presence of lithium-ion batteries "incorrectly placed in residual waste and recycling".

In the past 18 months, two recycling sites in Leicestershire have been forced to close because of lithium battery fires and another forced to shut because of a bin lorry fire. The council has therefore released advice on how to properly dispose of the single-use vapes to ensure the impact on the environment is lessened.

The spokesperson added: "Please do not dispose of them in your kerbside waste or recycling bins. Some vape shops have a designated collection bin, so it is worth checking your local vape shop in the first instance.

"If you are able to remove the battery easily, please do so and recycle the battery at your local supermarket or recycling and household waste site.

"If you are unable to do this, check with your local district council to see if there is a separate small electricals kerbside collection. If this is not the case in your local area, recycle the unit in the small electricals bin at your local recycling and household waste site."

The council is also "strongly urging" people to consider buying a reusable vape if possible, as these "keep valuable resources in use for longer". It also called on people to ensure single-use vapes are finished before being disposed of correctly.