Scotland’s Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater has announced the formation of an advisory group to shape plans for mandatory charges on coffee cups and other single-use disposable beverage containers.
The government said it is restarting the work to tackle single-use cup waste, having been paused due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The charge is expected to come into effect during the course of this parliament.
The group will contain representatives from every stage of the supply chain – from manufacturers and distributors through small and large retailers – as well as consumer groups, environmental NGOs, equalities groups and academics.
“Lots of people already carry a reusable cup with them, but hundreds of millions of single-use cups are still being wasted every single year. Evidence shows that a small charge on single-use cups can be hugely effective in encouraging people to switch to a reusable alternative,” Slater said.
“I look forward to working with experts representing business, the environment and consumers to take forward this important measure. Alongside Scotland’s deposit return scheme, which will recycle nearly two billion bottles and cans every year, and our action to ban some of the most problematic single-use plastics, this will make a vital contribution to reducing the amount of waste generated in the country.”
An estimated 200 million single-use disposable beverage cups are used every year in Scotland, with this figure expected to rise to 310 million by 2025. Zero Waste Scotland estimates that they generate around 4,000 tonnes of waste each year.
“Single-use items, like cups, are emblematic of the throwaway culture we need to change if we want to tackle the climate crisis,” Iain Gulland, chief executive at Zero Waste Scotland, commented.
“We know there’s an appetite for action on such items, with a recent Zero Waste Scotland survey indicating that 66 per cent of Scots would support introducing charges to limit the use of single-use plastic and packaging.
“Switching to reusable over single-use is one of the best things we can all do for the environment, so it’s hugely welcome news that work to shape a chargeable cup scheme is continuing with the formation of an advisory group.”
An Expert Panel on Environmental Charging and Other Measures, chaired by Dame Sue Bruce, has earlier recommended the introduction of a national, mandatory requirement to sell beverages and disposable cups separately, including an initial minimum price of between 20-25p per cup.
As part of recently announced packaging reforms, larger coffee shops, fast food chains and others who sell drinks in disposable paper cups will have to provide a dedicated bin to collect and recycle these from 2024.
To use this website you must be aged 18 years or over. Please verify your age before entering the site.
