Call to lead way and curb use of single-use cups

ENVIRONMENT: Ministers urged to be world leaders and ban polystyrene drink holders – as well as introducing ‘latte levy’

Environmental campaigners are calling on ministers to ban the use of polystyrene cups as well as introduce a so-called “latte levy”.

Organisations including Friends of the Earth Scotland, the Marine Conservation Society and Greenpeace have joined forces to press the Scottish Government to adopt a “radical” plan aimed at tackling litter and waste.

With disposable drinks cups one of the most commonly discarded items, they want to see a 25p charge introduced on single-use coffee cups, as well as an outright ban on the use of polystyrene and PVC drinks containers.

Campaigners, who also include the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland (APRS) – which helped persuade Scottish ministers to back a deposit return scheme for drinks cans and bottles – and Surfers Against Sewage, are now hoping to persuade all parties to get behind their plans.

Their goal is for a ban on all singleuse plastic packaging and utensils in the catering sector, with remaining plastic food packaging sold in Scotland to be made from readily recyclable materials by 2025.

John Mayhew, director of APRS, said the Circular Economy Bill the Scottish Government has committed to bring in was “an opportunity for Scotland again to set the lead for the rest of the UK, and for us to take another massive step away from a destructive economy that relies on unnecessary single-use items”.

Scotland was the first in the UK to commit to a deposit return scheme, with Mr Mayhew adding: “Just as all parties support deposit return, so we hope there will be a consensus for these practical next steps too.”

Sarah Moyes, of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “The impact of plastic pollution is everywhere. While consumer behaviour in tackling the issue is important, it’s imperative all five parties at Holyrood commit to addressing the problem of plastic at source by preventing its unnecessary use.

“The forthcoming Circular Economy Bill has the opportunity to do that, but we also urge the Scottish Government to go one step further and implement our six point plan so we can reduce the use of single-use plastics in Scotland.

“We need political commitment to ban the most harmful materials so that the packaging from a quick bite to eat or a drink doesn’t damage our environment for years to come.”

Louise Edge, head of Greenpeace UK’s ocean plastics campaign, said Scotland had “a good track record for being ahead of the game on plastics, as an early adopter of the plastic bag charge”.

Picture: PA. Environmental campaigners want single-use cups banned.