Coffee chains to tackle throw away cup scourge

Four major coffee chains have pledged to tackle the recycling of single use coffee cups.

Starbucks, Costa, Pret a Manger and Caffe Nero say they have made an agreement with recycling alliance ACE UK in a bid to reduce waste.

A total of 2.8 billion cups are thrown away in the UK every year. Only two recycling centres in the UK, in Kendal and Halifax, have the ability to recycle throw away coffee cups due to the material – polyethylene – used to make the vessels waterproof.

Richard Hands, chief executive of ACE UK, said the recycling deal would see a “step change” in the recycling of drinks cups.

He said: “The paper cup industry is facing very similar recycling challenges to the ones the beverage carton industry faced when we started our programme ten years ago.”

Mcdonalds, Greggs and Nestle are among other companies which have also forged an agreement.