Zero Waste Scotland has urged businesses and organisations keen to have their say on the circular economy policy to do so before it closes.
The consultation proposes introducing a charge of around 25p on all single-use cups for both hot and cold drinks, with a small number of exceptions for settings like schools.
According to the government, over 380 million single use cups are used in Scotland every year, which is the equivalent of 71 cups per person per year – one of the highest rates compared to nations in the European Union.
A survey by the company showed that more than half of people in Scotland (56%) think more needs to be done to tackle single-use items and back additional measures such as bans or charges to reduce single-use waste.
Gillian Martin MSP, acting cabinet secretary for net zero and energy, added: “We want to build on the success of the single use carrier bag charge introduced in 2014 – it demonstrated that a charge can raise awareness, change behaviour and promote responsible consumption.
“A charge for single-use disposable beverage cups will therefore be modelled on this approach, where appropriate, as it will be familiar and has been shown to be effective.”
Iain Gulland, chief executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said: “The proposed charge for single-use cups is another really important step to help us move away from our throwaway society and towards a more circular economy. Our on-the-go culture has fuelled an enormous rise in single-use items that are a waste of resources and end up polluting our natural environment.
“Measures, like the single-use carrier bag charge, have shown that small financial disincentives are an effective way of changing behaviour towards single-use items and can help switch people on to reusable alternatives.
“We appreciate the implementation of a cup charge can lead to additional considerations for retailers, which is why I would strongly urge them to engage in this consultation – so decision-makers can best understand how to enact this important measure in a way that works well for retailers and customers alike.”
See the consultation here.
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