07 Oct 2019 --- Introducing a charge on disposable coffee cups would be more effective than the widely-used system of offering a discount to customers who bring their own reusable cup. This is according to a study led by Zero Waste Scotland, which found that cafés that replaced discounts for reusable cups with clear, equivalent charges for disposable cups significantly increased the proportion of customers switching to reusables for on-the-go coffee and tea. These findings follow the Expert Panel on Charges and Other Measures – which Zero Waste Scotland has an advisory role on – recommending that the Scottish government legally obliges retailers to sell single-use cups separately for a minimum of 20p to 25p (US$0.25-0.31).
