VISITORS to the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick are being offered a discount at the attraction’s cafe. . . if they bring their own cups.

Anyone who uses their own cup for a takeaway hot drink will be given a 50p discount at the visitor centre.

Tom Brock, chief executive of the Scottish Seabird Centre, said: “Single-use plastics are high on the agenda for the team and we have put a number of measures in place to minimise waste.

“Our takeaway cups are Vegware, which is compostable; however, we are also encouraging people to bring in their own cups for takeaway hot drinks, with a 50p discount available.

“In the Seabird Cafe there are also compostable straws, recyclable glass bottles and jars, and sauce sachets are being replaced by dispensers and compostable containers.

“Plastic waste is a major threat to Scotland’s marine wildlife and changing behaviour is crucial.

“The more people understand about the impact of plastics on the natural environment and what everyone can do to help, the better. We all need to reduce, reuse and recycle more to help our amazing wildlife.”

The centre’s move comes just weeks after the town’s community council backed a bid to make North Berwick plastic and polystyrene free.

Tommy Todd, chairman of North Berwick Community Council, has launched a campaign that he hopes will see plastic ditched from shops, hotels, restaurants and takeaways.

Mr Todd, who runs fashion boutique Kilbucho on High Street, already has the support of North Berwick Harbour Trust Association, the Seabird Centre and many local businesses, but he asked North Berwick Community Council (NBCC) for its support at the group’s meeting in January.

Claire Mackenzie, vice-chairwoman, said: “This could be something that really puts us on the map if we can make North Berwick plastic-free.”

Fellow community councillor Olwyn Owen added: “Plastic-free North Berwick is a great idea.”

And fishmongers Edward Collin have also given their backing to the idea, offering reusable containers to customers that visit their shop at whynot? on North Berwick High Street.

For more information about the plastic-free group, visit its Facebook page facebook.com/plasticfreenorthberwick