Scotland has become the first part of the UK to ban the sale of plastic cotton buds.
New regulations have come into force prohibiting the manufacture and sale of the items, as part of measures to reduce plastic waste.
Environmental campaigners at the Marine Conservative Society, who have cleared more than 150,000 plastic cotton bud sticks from Scotland’s beaches over the last 25 years, hailed the move as a “fantastic win” for the sea and wildlife. The ban comes in as regulations, which were laid in the Scottish Parliament in September, take effect.
Scottish Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: “I am proud that the Scottish Government has become the first UK administration to ban plastic-stemmed cotton buds.
“Single-use plastic products are not only wasteful but generate unnecessary litter that blights our beautiful beaches and green spaces while threatening our wildlife on land and at sea.
“This ban builds on work already under way to address Scotland’s throw-away culture, and we will continue to take action on other problematic items in the coming years as part of our efforts to reduce harmful plastics and single-use items, protect our environment and develop a thriving circular economy.”
Ms Cunningham added: “We are facing a global climate emergency and must all work together to reduce, reuse and recycle to ensure a sustainable future for the current and next generation.”