The new regulations on single-use plastics/expanded polystyrene cups are coming into force on 01 June 2022. After this date, the single-use plastic items listed below will be banned unless an exemption applies.
The new regulations from the Scottish Government published on 11 November 2021 mean that some problematic single-use plastic items (listed below) are banned from June 2022. The regulations mean that market restrictions (effectively a ban) will be imposed on problematic single-use plastic items which are most commonly found as marine litter in Europe and affected businesses have until June 2022 to prepare for the new restrictions.
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- Items to which are restricted
- Exemptions and exclusions to the rules
- Getting ready for the new legislation
The items which are restricted. The ban means it is unlawful to make and supply commercially any of the following single-use plastic items:
- Cutlery (forks, knives, spoons, chopsticks and other similar utensils)
- Plates
- Beverage stirrers
- Food containers made of expanded polystyrene
- Cups made of expanded polystyrene
The regulations also make it unlawful to supply commercially the items below. These items are subject to exemptions which allow them to be supplied in particular settings and circumstances:
- Plastic straws;
- Plastic balloon sticks;
All the restrictions apply to both online and in-store sales, whether they are free or charged for.
For more information on the items included within the restrictions, go to the Zero Waste Scotland FAQs page.