Valpak, which administers the UK’s largest paper cup recycling scheme, has expanded its service to help smaller businesses, including coffee shops meet upcoming legislation.
It follows the launch of the National Cup Recycling Scheme which was set up to kick-start paper cup recycling, and brought together major retailers, waste management companies and UK paper mills.
Its next step is to expand to include smaller brands and cafés. From October 2025, any business with more than 10 employees which provides paper cups to staff or customers will need to report twice a year on the volume of cups sold.
As well as assisting with compliance, Valpak will provide outlets with a collection box that con hold between 400 and 700 cups. Once filled businesses will be able to arrange for a collection, with the cups being delivered to paper mills around the country where they are recycled for luxury brands.
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Valpak National Cup Recycling Manager Hannah Osman said: “The UK already has the capacity to recycle all of the cups generated across the country’s 25,000 cafés and coffee shops, so this legislation will have a far-reaching impact.”
She continued: “As with any new regulation, it may be confusing at first but the National Cup Recycling Scheme’s work with major brands such as Costa and McDonald’s means we already have a successful network in place. Combined with Valpak’s experience in compliance, we have all the tools to support businesses through the transition.”
Keep Scotland Beautiful campaigns and social innovation manager Paul Wallace, who previously worked with Valpak via the flagship Cup Movement Programme, said: “We are looking forward to working in collaboration with community groups to pilot the boxes in coming months in the remote, rural setting of Scottish Highlands, as part of our work through the Highland Community Waste Partnership.”
He continued: “Nearly 80% of Scotland’s carbon footprint comes from the things that we make, use, and often throw away after one use. 200 million single-use cups are used in Scotland each year.”
