Could Scots soon be charged extra 25p for single-use cups?

People in Scotland could be charged an extra 25p if they buy drinks in a single-use cup, under plans outlined by the Scottish government.

Ministers have launched a consultation on whether businesses should be required to add an additional charge on top of any existing costs in a bid to reduce the use of disposable cups going to landfill.

The scheme would be similar to the current charges in place for single-use carrier bags, and consumers would be encouraged to use reusable cups.

If it goes ahead, the charge would be introduced across Scotland by the end of 2025.

It would be applied to all single-use disposable beverage cups, regardless of composition or type of drink the cup is intended to be used for.

This includes single-use cups marketed as “biodegradable” or “compostable”.

Most single-use cups are paper, but are lined with plastic to make them waterproof. This makes them difficult to recycle without specialist processes.

An estimated 388.7m single-use beverage cups were used in Scotland in 2021-22, according to the government. This is approximately 71 cups per person.

Under the proposals, there would be exemptions for drinks handed for free in hospitals or care homes, in schools or where using a reusable cup may not be practical.

The consultation states that a number of options are being considered for where the money raised will go. This includes suppliers being allowed to keep the money to spend on environmental protection measures or to donate to a nominated charity.

The idea of treating the money as a tax and being collected centrally by the Scottish government or local authorities is also being considered.

The Scottish government said the move will reduce waste and litter.

Gillian Martin MSP, Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy said: “We want to build on the success of the single use carrier bag charge introduced in 2014 – it demonstrated that a charge can raise awareness, change behaviour and promote responsible consumption.

“A charge for single-use disposable beverage cups will therefore be modelled on this approach, where appropriate, as it will be familiar and has been shown to be effective.”

Speaking to BBC Scotland News, Ms Martin said she believes there is “public appetite” for the move.

“If you look at people on the street today they are very used to having reusable cups whether it is to hold water or whether it is to have their own coffee as they leave home everyday,” she said.

Ms Martin continued: “I actually don’t think this would be a massive burden on anyone, I think they would get used to it. A lot of places do this already.”

However, a spokesperson for Scottish retailers said the move is “poorly timed” and questioned if it will have a “substantial impact”.

Ewan MacDonald-Russell, deputy head of the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC), said: “Retailers are already taking action to improve the recycling of cups and reduce the use of disposable cups, including offering financial incentives to use reusable containers and changing materials to be more biodegradable.

“Therefore we question, at a time where the economy is flatlining and high streets are struggling, whether this is the time to introduce a new cost to hard-pressed consumers.”

The SRC represents major café chains including Starbucks, Costa, McDonalds and Greggs.

Scottish Conservative MSP Maurice Golden said while his party supported the Circular Economy Bill, he has concerns on how the new tax will be applied.

He said: “The SNP’s so-called latte levy will hit hard-pressed consumers and businesses, which is the last thing they need right now.

“For many Scots, this will be imposing extra costs on them when they have no other option. Even the SNP’s own consultation admits it will impact negatively on disabled people, who rely on purchasing these single-use cups when out and about.”

The legislation granting the Scottish government additional powers to add this charge was passed unanimously by the Scottish Parliament as part of the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill in June 2024.

The bill also proposes potential fines for car and van drivers if anyone is caught littering from their vehicle and fixed-penalty notices for people who put the wrong items in their bins.

These proposals will be considered at a later date. The single-use cup consultation runs until 14 November.