A new advisory group will formulate plans for mandatory charges on single-use beverage containers, in the hope of promoting environmentally friendly alternatives.

Announced by Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater, the group’s formation signals the renewal of efforts from the Scottish Government to tackle single-use cup waste, which was paused by the advent of Covid-19.

According to the Scottish Government, an estimated 200 million single-use beverage cups are used every year in Scotland, with the figure expected to rise to 310 million by 2025. This consumption, estimates Zero Waste Scotland, generates roughly 4,000 tonnes of waste annually.

The charge is expected to come into force over the course of this parliament, while other recent reforms will see larger coffee shops, fast food chains and other venues have to provide a dedicated bin to collect and recycle disposable paper cups from 2024.

Slater - who today visited the Edinburgh restaurant Malvarosa, one of several small businesses trialling sustainable alternatives to disposable containers as part of Zero Waste Scotland’s Ditching Disposables pilot – commented: “Single-use coffee cups are a classic example of the throwaway culture that we are taking action to tackle. 

“Lots of people already carry a reusable cup with them, but hundreds of millions of single-use cups are still being wasted every single year.

“Evidence shows that a small charge on single-use cups can be hugely effective in encouraging people to switch to a reusable alternative.

“I look forward to working with experts representing business, the environment and consumers to take forward this important measure. Alongside Scotland’s deposit return scheme, which will recycle nearly two billion bottles and cans every year, and our action to ban some of the most problematic single-use plastics, this will make a vital contribution to reducing the amount of waste generated in the country.”

Zero Waste Scotland chief executive Iain Gulland added: “Single-use items, like cups, are emblematic of the throwaway culture we need to change if we want to tackle the climate crisis.

“We know there’s an appetite for action on such items, with a recent Zero Waste Scotland survey indicating that 66% of Scots would support introducing charges to limit the use of single-use plastic and packaging.

“Switching to reusable over single-use is one of the best things we can all do for the environment, so it’s hugely welcome news that work to shape a chargeable cup scheme is continuing with the formation of an advisory group.”