Individuals throughout Scotland are encouraged to participate in discussions regarding the implementation of a minimum charge for single-use cups. This initiative aims to promote responsible consumption and significantly reduce waste in the food and drink sector.
During the year 2021-22, Scotland witnessed the consumption of approximately 388 million single-use cups, leading to the generation of 5,400 tonnes of waste. To address this issue, a proposed charge of 25p will be levied on all single-use drinks cups purchased, irrespective of the material used.
It is worth noting that certain exemptions will apply, particularly in designated locations such as schools, and the charge will not extend to free drinks dispensed in hospitals or care settings. This approach reflects a broader trend in Europe, with similar charging mechanisms already established—most notably, the Netherlands introduced a guideline charge of 25 cents for plastic, single-use cups in 2023.
Furthermore, legislation permitting the introduction of environmental levies on single-use disposable cups has been approved in the Republic of Ireland, although it has yet to be enacted.
In Scotland, retailers would have the option to retain ‘reasonable implementation costs’ from the charge, akin to the existing framework for single-use carrier bags. The ongoing consultation also seeks input on whether the net proceeds from this charge should be retained by businesses for charitable purposes or collected by local or national government entities.
Gillian Martin, the acting net zero secretary, emphasized, “The success of the single-use carrier bag charge shows how an environmental charge can be an effective tool to change people’s behaviour and encourage responsible consumption.” She highlighted that a significant number of single-use cups contribute to litter, with analysts noting that the vast majority indeed do.
“Introducing a national charge could provide consistency for consumers, offer a level playing field for retail and businesses, and help drive sustainable behaviors forward. Our proposed approach is similar to the charge for single-use carrier bags and will be familiar to both suppliers and the public. We hope this means that it will minimize any administrative burden on businesses and make it easy for individuals and organizations to adopt.
“I urge everyone to have their say so we can choose the most sustainable option for both people and businesses while helping to tackle litter, reduce waste, and cut emissions.”
Calum Duncan, head of policy and advocacy at the Marine Conservation Society, stated, “Our volunteers have consistently recorded single-use disposable cups on over half of UK beaches surveyed. We need to see charges on these kinds of items to reduce litter in our seas and prevent it from damaging our precious marine life. We know that policies like this work, with our data recently showing an 80% reduction in the average number of plastic carrier bags washing up on beaches since charges on them were introduced. We look forward to a similar decline in disposable cups once a charge is introduced and need further measures from governments to move towards a society where refillable and reusable options are the norm.”
