The last (plastic) straw is just a year away

Scotland is to become the first European country to ditch plastic straws – and a ban could be in place as early as next year.

Confirming that she hoped a previously announced ban on cotton buds would be introduced by the end of this year, environment secretary Roseanna Cunningham told a newspaper: “Straws would be into the next year.”

Asked if a plastic straw ban could be law by the end of 2019, she said: “I don’t see any reason why not.”

Ms Cunningham also urged organisations to ban plastic straws before restrictions become law.

She said: “Legislation can’t be achieved overnight, which is why I don’t want to discourage people from action. I would strongly encourage the big manufacturers of straws that the writing is on the wall and they need to be thinking about alternatives now.”

Plans for legislation aimed at introducing a ban on cotton buds this year were announced last month, with Ms Cunningham saying she wanted to ban plastic straws at the same time.

She said if there are no plastic straw producers in Scotland, legislation could happen sooner.

She added: “If they are not manufactured in Scotland, you can accelerate the speed.”