Government promises no effective action on UK’s mountain of coffee cup waste

09 March 2018 The Environmental Audit Committee publishes the Government response to the Committee’s report on Disposable Packaging: Coffee Cups

• Read the Government Response
• Read the Committee’s Report: Disposable Packaging: Coffee Cups

The Government has refused to take any decisive action on the complex issue of coffee cups – including the introduction of a ‘latte levy’ – and has instead chosen to rely on voluntary commitments.   The Environmental Audit Committee has also announced today that it has asked the National Audit Office to inquire into the Government’s oversight of the Packaging Recovery Note scheme, to further scrutinise UK recycling policy (contact Kinseys@parliament.uk for further details).

Chair’s comments

Environmental Audit Committee Chair, Mary Creagh MP:

“The UK’s throwaway culture is having a devastating impact on our streets, beaches and seas. Our report recommended practical solutions to the disposable packaging crisis. The Government’s response shows that despite warm words they plan no real action.””

“Latte Levy”

The Committee’s key recommendation was the introduction of a 25p levy on the use of disposable coffee cups, to reduce their use and help to fund recycling measures.

The Government response suggests that coffee shops should offer discounts for customers with reusable cups, instead of a levy on disposable cups. In its inquiry, the Committee heard that a charge – such as that introduced on plastic bags – was the most effective way to change consumer behaviour.

During the inquiry the Environment Minister Dr Therese Coffey MP told the Committee that DEFRA’s Voluntary and Economic Incentives working group would examine coffee cups for their next project, but the Government response to the report makes no mention of this.

Mary Creagh said:

“Evidence to our inquiry demonstrated that charges work better than discounts for reducing the use of non-recyclable materials – as was the case with the plastic bag charge. By choosing to favour voluntary discounts for reusable cups, the Government is ignoring the evidence about what works.

“DEFRA’s Voluntary and Economic Incentives working group should open their consultation on coffee cups as soon as possible. The Government should look to repeat the success of the 5p bag charge by introducing a latte levy.”

Defra respond to the criticism over their policy and emphasise that they have an open mind on the latte levy.