Scotland is first part of UK to ban sale of plastic cotton buds

Scotland has become the first part of the UK to ban the sale of plastic cotton buds.

New regulations have come into force prohibiting the manufacture and sale of the items, as part of measures to reduce plastic waste.

Environmental campaigners at the Marine Conservative Society, who have cleared more than 150,000 plastic cotton bud sticks from Scotland’s beaches over the last 25 years, hailed the move as a “fantastic win” for the sea and wildlife.

The ban comes in as regulations, which were laid in the Scottish Parliament last month, take effect.

A ban on the sale and manufacture of plastic micro beads is already in place, having been introduced in June last year.

Scottish Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: “I am proud that the Scottish Government has become the first UK administration to ban plastic-stemmed cotton buds.

“Single-use plastic products are not only wasteful but generate unnecessary litter that blights our beautiful beaches and green spaces while threatening our wildlife on land and at sea.

“This ban builds on work already under way to address Scotland’s throw-away culture, and we will continue to take action on other problematic items in the coming years as part of our efforts to reduce harmful plastics and single-use items, protect our environment and develop a thriving circular economy.”

Catherine Gemmel, of the Marine Conservative Society, said its volunteers had “picked up over 150,000 plastic cotton bud sticks from Scottish beaches over the last 25 years so this ban coming into force is a fantastic win for our seas and wildlife”.

WWF Scotland director Lang Banks also described the ban as “great news for wildlife”.

He stated: “Cotton buds are some of the most pervasive forms of marine pollution so a ban is very welcome and a step and one that we hope other countries will follow.”