More than 25,000 vapes are thought to be swept up from streets and drains across Aberdeenshire every month, data from the local authority suggests.
More than 5,000 e-cigarettes were found in 50 tonnes of street sweepings and gully waste by a waste management service which works for Aberdeenshire Council.
The authority provides 250 tonnes of waste to the provider every month and said it was “likely” this would contain at least 25,000 vapes.
People are being urged to safely dispose their devices due to the risk of fires and potential contamination issues.
When a battery can be removed from a vape, battery recycling bins are also an option.
It is claimed five million disposable vapes are thrown away in the UK every week.
The sale and supply of single-use vapes in Scotland could be banned by 1 April next year.
It follows a UK-wide consultation last year, with the date agreed by the devolved governments and Westminster.
