Support for disposable item charges in Scotland
THE controversial Circular Economy Bill – which could put charges on single-use, disposable items such as cups – has widely received public backing in a recent consultation.
More than 70% of respondents backed proposals to reduce household food waste, introduce a charge on disposable single-use items and set new circular economy targets from 2025.
Gillian Martin, acting net zero secretary, said: “Reusing and recycling materials has a huge role to play in Scotland’s response to tackling the climate crisis.
“We want to make sustainable choices the easiest option for both people and businesses and the actions in our Route Map will help make that a reality, ensuring we value materials and keep them in use for as long as possible before recycling where possible.”
The Scottish Government passed the new Circular Economy Bill in June of this year in a bid to improve recycling rates across Scotland and work towards introducing more sustainable practices across the country.
While the moves towards a more circular economy have been widely welcomed across the convenience retail channel, concerns over charges on single-use items as well as new rules for restrictions on the disposal of unsold goods have been slammed by members of the sector.
Speaking on the passing of the bill, Mo Razzaq, national president of the Federation of Independent Retailers, said: “We agree that recycling needs to be better, but it also needs to be cost effective and procedures need to be transparent and simple to understand.
“Paying for food uplift is already expensive and retailers cannot afford to pay much more in disposal costs.
“This will deter small retailers from offering fresh food, which includes meat, fruit and vegetables. In turn, this will push customers towards buying longer life items which will lead to poorer, less healthier diets.
“Further to this, the extra charge on disposable single-use items will only place an extra burden on retailers. We will asking suppliers to offer a better rate of cost as well as reusable alternatives to disposable cups.”
