Call for ‘latte levy’ to cut coffee cup waste

A 25p “latte levy” should be introduced on disposable coffee cups to cut waste, MPS have said.

The plan is being considered by ministers amid calls for a ban on disposable cups by 2023 unless manufacturers can make them recyclable.

It came as Starbucks announced a 5p paper cup charge trial in February in around 25 central London stores.

The UK throws away 2.5billion paper cups every year, according to research, with many consumers believing they are being recycled when fewer than 1 per cent actually are. The rest are incinerated or buried in landfill sites because paper mills struggle to remove the plastic inner-linings.

The Environmental Audit Committee wants the Government to introduce a minimum 25p charge to cut waste in the same way the plastic bag levy has done. The proceeds would be spent on better “binfrastructure”, MPS said, including more recycling points.

MPS also called for a target to be set by the Government to ban all non-recyclable coffee cups by 2023 and increase charges for companies which do not invest in reusable materials.

The Government is “open to the idea”, sources said, but wants any levy to trigger a change in behaviour and not simply put up prices.

Mary Creagh, the committee chairman, said: “The UK throws away 2.5billion disposable coffee cups every year ... Almost none are recycled.

“Coffee shops have been pulling the wool over customers’ eyes, telling us their cups can be recycled when less than 1 per cent are.”