Would you pay 25p '˜latte levy' on disposable coffee cups?

All disposable coffee cups should be recycled by 2023, and they should be banned if the target is not met, the Environmental Audit Committee said.

The committee is calling on the Government to introduce a 25p charge on disposable cups on top of the price of a coffee, with the money raised used to improve the UK’s reprocessing facilities and “binfrastructure” to ensure cups and other food and drink packaging is recycled.

Some shops give money off the price of a hot drink for customers who use reusable cups, such as Pret A Manger, which has just doubled its discount to 50p.

But the committee said uptake of these offers was low at only one per cent to two per cent of coffee purchases, and consumers were more responsive to a charge than a discount based on the success of the 5p single-use plastic bag levy.

The UK throws away 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups every year.

Almost all of them are incinerated, exported or sent to landfill because their plastic lining makes them costly to recycle.

The committee heard that less than one per cent of coffee cups are recycled because there are only three facilities in the UK that can split the paper and plastic components.

But most people dispose of their coffee cups in recycling bins believing they will be recycled.

The committee said cups from cafes that do not have in-store recycling systems should be printed with “not widely recycled” labels to boost consumer awareness, while cafes that do have recycling systems should label their cups as “recyclable in store only”. It is also calling on the Government to set fees for producers who make packaging that is difficult to recycle.

Committee chairwoman and Wakefield MP Mary Creagh said: “The UK throws away 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups every year, enough to circle the planet five-and-a-half times.

“Almost none are recycled and half-a-million a day are littered.

“Coffee cup producers and distributors have not taken action to rectify this and government has sat on its hands.

“The UK’s coffee shop market is expanding rapidly, so we need to kick-start a revolution in recycling.

“We’re calling for action to reduce the number of single use cups, promote reusable cups over disposable cups and to recycle all coffee cups by 2023.”

She added: “Coffee shops have been pulling the wool over customers’ eyes, telling us their cups can be recycled when less than one per cent are. Taxpayers are footing the bill for disposing of the billions of coffee cups thrown away each year, whether or not they are coffee drinkers.

“It is only right that producers should bear more of the financial burden to help recycle their packaging, so my committee is calling for producer responsibility reform that rewards businesses that use sustainable packaging and makes those that don’t face higher charges.”

Laura Foster, head of clean seas at the Marine Conservation Society, said: “Just like the plastic bag charge we are all now familiar with, a charge added to our coffee at the point of purchase will help consumers think about whether to take a refill cup to the cafe.

“We totally agree with the committee that if 100% recycling of coffee cups isn’t reached by 2023, then there should be an outright ban on providing them.

“Only by treating this issue as one that is the responsibility of both industry and consumers will re-use become the norm in place of single-use and throw away.”

What do you think? We asked these Leeds shoppers for their views on the ‘latte levy’.

Pamela Walton, 79, from Otley

“I can see two sides. If it’s going to be costly (to recycle), it’s probably a good idea. I’m not opposed to the idea. Some of the stuff they do is wasting money. It’s at least practical.”

Millie Hunter, 22, from Scotland

“I definitely think there should be a charge. I actually got a cup for Christmas, an eco friendly cup. I think there should be (a charge) because, to me, sustainability is a massive thing. It’s such a small change. I personally feel like everyone has the responsibility to make some change - I mean, what is 25p on a cup? It’s the minimum we can do.”

Penny Timmond, 61, from Las Vegas

“Considering how much Starbucks charges for a cup of coffee, another 25p probably isn’t going to make a big deal, since if you can afford it to begin with, then you can afford another 25p.”

Mollie Allison, 71, from Adel, Leeds

“I think it’s ridiculous that you have to have a plastic cup anyway, you should have a proper cup that they can wash up. I might be prepared to pay an extra 10p for a proper cup.”

Mariam Bennett, 68, from Bridlington

“I think that the levy on recyclable cups is absolutely disgusting and outrageous. Coffee is expensive enough and most coffee drinkers will be outraged.”

Vox pops compiled by Natasha Meek, Ann Holmes and Laura Andrew.

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