Scottish Government consultation on banning common single-use plastic items

The Scottish Government has launched a consultation seeking views on the introduction of new legislation to restrict the sale or commercial supply of plastic plates, straws, cutlery, balloon sticks, polystyrene food and drink containers, and products made from oxo-degradable plastics. These items are the ones most commonly found washed-up on European beaches and were identified in the EU Single Plastics Directive as contributing the majority share of litter found in the marine environment.

Millions of single-use plastic items are used in Scotland each year, including an estimated: 

• 300 million plastic straws 
• 276 million pieces of plastic cutlery 
• 50 million plastic plates 
• 66 million polystyrene food containers

Restrictions on the sale or commercial supply of these single use plastic products would support efforts to tackle Scotland’s throwaway culture, reduce problematic litter and promote the use of more environmentally-friendly alternatives.

The consultation is open until 4 January 2021 and responses can be completed on the Scottish Government website.

Source: Scottish Government, 12 October 2020