The Scottish Government have published their Draft Environmental Protection Regulations which gives more clarity on how they will implement the EU Directives on Single-Use Plastics which are due to be implemented in mainland Europe from July this year.
The content of the Draft Regulations are pretty much consistent with the EU Directives however Holyrood has gone a step further by announcing “market restrictions” (bans) on products made from Oxy Biodegradable materials and extending the ban on plastic plates to include platters, trays and bowls. This means that when the Draft Regulations become law, the following items will banned from use in Scotland;
- single-use plastic expanded polystyrene beverage cups
- single-use plastic expanded polystyrene beverage containers
- single-use plastic expanded polystyrene food containers
- single-use plastic cutlery
- single-use plastic plates (including trays and platters)
- single-use plastic beverage stirrers
- all oxo-degradable plastic products.
The Draft Regulations were published on March 17th, there is an opportunity to respond to these before April 13th by answering three questions;
1. Do you have any comments you would like to make regarding the scope of the provisions proposed in these draft regulations?
2. Do you have any comments you would like to make regarding the scope of the exemptions proposed in these draft regulations?
3. Do you have any other comments on the Draft Regulations you would like to make?
Once these have been received and analysed by the Scottish Government, they will publish their final version of the bill.
If you wish to make a response to the Draft Regulations, please use this link:
Draft Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products and Oxo-degradable Plastic Products) (Scotland) Regulations 2021: discussion paper – Scottish Government – Citizen Space (consult.gov.scot)
Should you require any further information or have any questions, please feel free to call John on 07736 231847.
