SCOTLAND
Ban of several single-use plastic items / Plastic straws exempted “under special circumstances”
 The legislation includes exemptions for single-use plastic straws (Photo: Panthermedia/Toberto) |
The Scottish government has banned the manufacture and supply of a range of single-use plastic (SUP) products from 1 June 2022, with individuals or businesses convicted of breaking the new rules likely to face a fine of up to GBP 5,000 (EUR 5,915).
Items banned under the new rules are single-use expanded polystyrene beverage cups and containers, including their covers and lids, EPS food containers, plastic cutlery and plates, and plastic beverage stirrers. The Scottish government said disposable plastic straws would be subject to exemptions, including their use in pharmacies, care homes or when used for medical purposes.
Related: Packaging producers voice concern over fragmentation of European SUP laws
Scotland’s circular economy minister Lorna Slater said the new rules would prevent “hundreds of millions of pieces of single-use plastic” from being wasted across the country.
“Crucially, the legislation includes exemptions for single-use plastic straws, to make sure that those who need them for independent living or medical purposes can still get access to them,” she added.
The UK parliament has recently passed an environment bill, which includs taxes for SUP products. It only applies in England, since Scotland and Wales have their own environmental legislation (see Plasteurope.com of 12.11.2021).
Items banned under the new rules are single-use expanded polystyrene beverage cups and containers, including their covers and lids, EPS food containers, plastic cutlery and plates, and plastic beverage stirrers. The Scottish government said disposable plastic straws would be subject to exemptions, including their use in pharmacies, care homes or when used for medical purposes.
Related: Packaging producers voice concern over fragmentation of European SUP laws
Scotland’s circular economy minister Lorna Slater said the new rules would prevent “hundreds of millions of pieces of single-use plastic” from being wasted across the country.
“Crucially, the legislation includes exemptions for single-use plastic straws, to make sure that those who need them for independent living or medical purposes can still get access to them,” she added.
The UK parliament has recently passed an environment bill, which includs taxes for SUP products. It only applies in England, since Scotland and Wales have their own environmental legislation (see Plasteurope.com of 12.11.2021).
18.11.2021 Plasteurope.com [249009-0]
Published on 18.11.2021
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