BIFFA has launched a nationwide recycling service for hot and cold takeaway drinks cups.
More than 62 million single-use tea, coffee and cold drinks cups are discarded in the UK every week. Although many contain cardboard that can be easily recycled into new products and packaging, Biffa said millions still end up in general waste.
Biffa, which already operates a disposable vape recycling service, is now offering UK mainland businesses a fully integrated disposal, collection and recycling solution for used cups.
The firm provides practical and technical help, from compliance advice to cup disposal points, bags and bins. The cups are collected, bulked and baled by Biffa, transporting them in its own fleet of vehicles to a UK paper mill to be transformed into new cardboard packaging.
Daniel Barrett, of Biffa’s reactive services, said, “Far too many recyclable takeaway cups end up in general waste, preventing perfectly good cardboard from being transformed back into new products. But despite the eagerness of many businesses to become more sustainable and compliant, the UK lacked sufficient options for the convenient and efficient nationwide recycling of these cups.
“Now, alongside our disposable vape recycling service and our leading position on surplus redistribution, our takeaway cup scheme shows how we’re actively reducing waste by helping people and businesses re-use, recycle and redistribute as much of it as possible so we can all leave a smaller footprint.”
Paul Sanderson, chief executive of The Recycling Association, added, “Many takeaway cups contain a high-quality cardboard that can be recycled into new cardboard or paper products. Collection schemes like this ensure that these cups can be kept from general waste so that they can be recycled at specialist mills. At The Recycling Association, we welcome anything that helps to increase recycling of products, while also ensuring we maintain high-quality recycling of easier-to-recycle packaging.”
