‘Latte levy’: Scots to be charged for takeaway cups

The Scottish Government wants to introduce a 25p fee on every disposable drinks cup.

Scots are being asked to share their opinions on the plans set out in a bid to protect the environment.

The policy would apply containers of any material, with no exemptions for those made from biodegradable and compostable materials.

The so-called “latte levy” comes as the use of such cups has soared in recent years, going from an estimated 200 million in 2018 to 388 million in 2021-22.

They contribute 54,000 tonnes of waste in Scotland each year which the Scottish Government said is a “symbol of our throwaway culture and a visible sign of litter”.

It said 53% of Scots frequently see littered single-use cups on the street.

Some big brands, such as Costa and Greggs, already offer customers a discount or reward when they bring their own reusable cups.

Research from 2019 estimated that a charge on single-use cups would lead to a behaviour change in 49% of the population.

Under the proposals in a consultation document, there would be exemptions for schools and free drinks handed out in hospitals or care homes.

In all other settings, those selling drinks would have to apply the charge when the beverage is purchased in a single-use cup.

Acting net zero secretary Gillian Martin said she wanted to replicate the success of the levy on plastic bags that has been in force for a decade.

She said: “The success of the single-use carrier bag charge shows how an environmental charge can be an effective tool to change people’s behaviour and encourage responsible consumption.

“While many businesses already have offers in place to encourage the use of reusable drinks cups, hundreds of millions of single-use cups are still being discarded, creating 5,400 tonnes of waste every year.

“Many of these cups end up littering our roadsides, town centres, beaches and parks.

“Introducing a national charge could provide consistency for consumers, provide a level playing field for retail and businesses, and help to drive forward sustainable behaviours.

“Our proposed approach is similar to the charge for single-use carrier bags and will be familiar to both suppliers and the public.

“We hope this means that it will minimise any administrative burden on businesses and make it easy for individuals and organisations to adopt.”

The Scottish Government consultation will run until November 14 and can be found here.