Single-Use Plastics in Scotland

It is being reported that from 1st June 2022, single-use plastics such as cutlery, plates, drink stirrers, and plastic straws will be banned (unless an exemption applies) in Scotland. An example exemption is where a person needs a single-use straw to be able to eat and drink independently, or for medical purposes.

Of the ban, Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater said:

“We are turning promise into action and banning some of the most problematic single-use plastic items in Scotland. Every year, hundreds of millions of pieces of single-use plastic are wasted in this country. They litter our coasts, pollute our oceans and contribute to the climate emergency. That has to end and this ban will be another step forward in the fight against plastic waste and throwaway culture.”

Zero Waste Scotland recommends that when switching to single-use plastic alternatives, businesses should consider rethinking their operations to remove the need for single-use plastics in the first place and where that is not possible, to choose materials that have the lowest environmental impact.

The ban hasn’t been universally welcomed, however, with The British Takeaway Campaign criticising the move as “another added cost” for businesses.