Most people think that paper cups are recycled but, because of the coating process, in fact only 1 in 400 are recycled. They go into landfill. Costa has introduced a recycling scheme but it’s a drop in the ocean.
All over the UK places like McDonald’s, Subway and KFC routinely give out a paper cup to customers who are consuming on the premises. This also happens in schools, colleges and hospitals too. It’s far more environmentally friendly to reuse a china mug than to dispose of a paper one.
At the last Conference the LibDems introduced a 5p disposable cup charge to encourage customers to bring their own – much like the disposable carrier bag charge.As many outlets will refuse to fill a customer’s cup we think that there needs to a similar law.