There needs to be a coffee cup revolution to minimise the number of single use cups that end up in landfill or being incinerated. 

Recently, I discovered that despite many coffee shops claiming the disposable cups they use are recyclable, they’re not. The truth is virgin paper-based and compostable cups used in most coffee shops aren’t easily processed by UK recycling plants, meaning that many simply end up at landfill or incineration plants. In January, The Times reported that recycling facilities are not processing coffee cups despite claims from producers that they can be recycled.

One of the main issues with disposable coffee cups is the disconnect between their alleged environmental credentials and what actually happens. The UK is set to throw away a third more single-use coffee cups than at present by 2030, and with less than 0.25% of disposable cups currently being recycled, the problem is growing only growing.

It's vital that all coffee shops in the UK review their current paper cup suppliers, to think about the number of disposable cups they use and ensure that they only stock sustainable cups, made with recycled paper, that can be recycled.