With the Charging for Single-Use Disposable Beverage Cups Consultation due to close on 14 November, there are just days left to put forward your views on this contentious issue.
The key proposal is that a charge of at least 25p should apply to all single-use beverage cups when an individual buys a drink of any kind eg coffee, tea, slush, milkshake.
“In a society increasingly aware of its environmental responsibilities, charging for disposable cups, regardless of their material, represents a significant step toward adopting sustainable habits,” says Iain Gulland, Chief Executive of Zero Waste Scotland. “It’s clear that consumers are ready for this change. Now, it’s time for businesses to lead by example. Retailers play a crucial role in driving change and promoting sustainable practices, both for their customers and their suppliers.
“Scotland alone used around 388 million single-use cups between 2021 and 2022. That’s 71 cups per person every year – a rate that exceeds many EU nations. These statistics reflect a throwaway culture that’s in direct conflict with Scotland’s ambitions to become a circular economy, where materials are reused, repurposed, or recycled to minimise waste.”
He claims that moving away from disposable items isn’t just about small personal choices; it’s about protecting the planet. “As we’ve seen with other successful initiatives, like the 2014 carrier bag charge, changing consumer habits is possible. The bag charge has led to an 80% reduction in single-use bags on UK beaches, and a similar impact can be achieved with cups.”
A recent Zero Waste Scotland survey saw 74% of respondents say they would use a reusable cup more frequently if a charge was introduced, and 60% stated they would buy fewer drinks in single-use cups. The demand for further action is clear, with more than half of the Scottish public (56%) supporting additional measures to reduce single-use items.
“By supporting this charge, retailers can showcase their commitment to protecting the planet, encouraging customers to make more sustainable, reusable choices,” says Gulland. “We can make circular choices a natural part of our daily routines and take meaningful action to protect our planet.”
SLR’s Sustainability Retailer of the Year, Premier Dundee University Students Association (DUSA), is no stranger to disposable cup charges. Retail Services Manager Moira explains that the store introduced a 50p charge in 2018. “The customer response was very good,” she says. “We also started selling refillable coffee cups at no profit, and when you purchased one, you received a free coffee.
“Even now, when we say to people that there’s a 50p disposable cup charge, they don’t raise an eyebrow.”
She believes that the public is becoming more aware of the need to be more sustainable.
“We were ahead of the curve on this, but I think sustainability is becoming more prevalent now.”
Jaz Ali, who owns Premier Grangemouth in Falkirk is fairly unphased at the prospect of a charge. “I think customers will just go with it to be honest with you,” he says. “It’s like the carrier bags – at the start when they brought in the charge, people were moaning, but eventually they’ve accepted it and they come in and pay for them or use their own bag. It’ll be the same with the cups as well.”
You can find out more and respond to the consultation here.
