Disposable coffee cup levy proposal welcomed by Christian environmentalists

Leaders of the conservation charity A Rocha UK described the idea tabled by the Environmental Audit Committee as “excellent news”.

The committee said evidence suggests an extra charge would be more effective in curbing the use of disposable cups than offering discounts for customers who bring a reusable one.

Conservation Director at A Rocha UK, Andy Lester said calling the cups disposable is a “lie” because most have a plastic lining and cannot be recycled.

Andy Lester told Premier it was “fake news” to suggest recyclable alternatives are not as effective as non-recyclable coffee cups.

He explained: “Now you can get cups that are just as good as non-biodegradable ones and the costs are coming down and down and down.

“It is believed fewer than one per cent of the 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups used in the UK every year are currently recycled – because only three facilities in the UK can process them.”

Encouraging churches to use the greener cups for social occasions, Andy Lester added: “The more churches who support organisations out there which are providing biodegradable cups, the better.”

The Environmental Audit Committee said all disposable coffee cups should be recycled by 2023 and the containers should be banned if the target is not met.

It also concluded that revenue generated by the levy could be used to improve recycling facilities.

Andy Lester went on to say: “There’s no excuse for not going with…