The Scottish government is pressing ahead with its plans to introduce charges on single-use disposable beverage containers.
Work to tackle single-use cup waste was paused due to the pandemic and the charge is expected to come into effect during the course of this parliament.
Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater is forming an advisory group that will shape plans for mandatory charges on single-use disposable beverage containers.
The group will contain representatives from manufacturers, distributors, small and large retailers, consumer groups, environmental non-governmental organisations, equalities groups, and academics.
Slater said: “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.”
Iain Gulland, Chief Executive, Zero Waste Scotland, added: “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 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.
An Expert Panel on Environmental Charging and Other Measures, chaired by Dame Sue Bruce, 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.
