Just 1% of 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups recycled

The Liberal Democrats have urged the government to introduce a charge on disposable coffee cups, after it emerged that just 1% of disposable cups used each year in the UK are recycled. The Environmental Audit Committee yesterday heard that 2.5 billion disposable cups are thrown away annually in the UK, equivalent to almost 7 million cups a day, of which only 1% are recycled. The number is expected to rise to about 3 billion by 2025. Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesperson Kate Parminter commented: “It is a scandal that only 1% of disposable coffee cups in the UK are recycled. "Most people buy their morning coffee and throw away the cup without even thinking about it. “The government must urgently introduce a coffee cup charge to encourage the use of reusable cups. “As we saw with the plastic bag charge, a small change can have a huge impact in protecting our environment.”