The serving Labour Government has reversed a mandatory takeback scheme for single-use cups introduced by the previous government, citing limited environmental benefits
The UK government has reversed a mandatory takeback scheme for single-use cups introduced by the previous Conservative government, citing limited environmental benefits and high costs.
The takeback scheme was backed by companies across the UK retail and packaging industries but was already delayed, having originally been planned to come into effect in 2024.
The proposed scheme would have obligated businesses with at least ten full-time staff members that supply drinks in fibre-based composite cups to supply a bin on their premises to collect the used cups. The companies would then need to make arrangements for recycling and report the weight of cups sold and collected to the regulator.
According to the UK’s Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), its analysis showed that the scheme would cost £52m to implement while achieving limited environmental improvements.
In a statement sent out to the press, a DEFRA spokesperson says: "Analysis has shown the mandatory takeback scheme for cups proposed by the previous government would not have the intended impact on boosting recycling rates and reducing litter. It would cost £52m to the government and industry, placing unnecessary burdens on businesses."
According to DEFRA, the decision to cancel the scheme will enable businesses to implement other packaging and collection reforms. DEFRA have claimed that it will support 21,000 jobs and generate “more than £10bn of investment” in recycling in the next decade.
Materials and packaging company, James Cropper, has responded to the Government’s decision and expressed its disappointment.
Rob Tilsley, fibre operations group leader at James Cropper, says: "It is hugely disappointing to hear that the UK and devolved governments have decided not to proceed with the mandatory cup takeback policy.
“It was hoped that the scheme would increase recycling rates from 2.8% to approximately 40% — a huge increase considering there are an estimated 3.2 billion cups in circulation in the UK each year.”
Tilsley cites cup collection as the key factor behind recycling rates remaining low. He states: “At James Cropper, we have the capacity to recycle up to 750 million PE-lined cups a year. Currently we are nowhere near that.
“It’s not the recycling of the cups that’s the problem - all paper cups used on the UK high street could be recycled. It’s the collection of the cups that is preventing progress.”
Despite the reversal of the scheme, which Tilsley describes as a “setback”, James Cropper is calling on the packaging industry and the wider public to keep up the momentum in increasing recycling rates and improving the UK’s circular economy.
“We are making great strides with cup collections from Biffa, Veolia, National Cup Recycling Scheme, Cup Collective, and CupRound, and we are really keen to hear from smaller and more localised waste merchants too.
“While we push for news from DEFRA on further reforms, we urge the general public to take their used cups from any outlet to participating companies such as McDonald’s, Costa Coffee, Pret A Manger, and Caffè Nero. They will end up with us in Cumbria where we’re committed to giving both the fibre and the PE-liner a second life."
