Around 2.5 billion single-use cups are used in the UK every year, yet fewer than one per cent are recycled. They contribute to litter, contaminate recycling streams and increase waste management and street cleansing costs for local authorities and taxpayers.
Research by the Revolution Plastics Institute team, University of Bath, Oxford Brookes University and University of Sheffield found that 92 per cent of customers are unsure whether they are being charged for a disposable cup when they buy a drink.
This lack of transparency means people may not realise that they are paying for disposable packaging or understand that they could avoid the cost by bringing a reusable cup. Existing charges vary between cafés and retailers and are often not clearly communicated at the point of purchase.
We use millions of disposable cups every year. Customers tend to believe they are recyclable, but the truth is that they very rarely are.
Dr Kate Whitman, Revolution Plastics Institute at the University of Portsmouth
Lead researcher Dr Kate Whitman , Revolution Plastics Institute at the University of Portsmouth, said: "We use millions of disposable cups every year. Customers tend to believe they are recyclable, but the truth is that they very rarely are. Whilst many cafes offer discounts to use reusable cups, these vary between retailers and are often not visible at the point of purchase. The default choice is often a disposable cup, and a clear, memorable charge will help to change that. By giving customers the information, they need to save money by using reusable alternatives, we can also reduce harmful waste."
The policy brief recommends that the charge should be clearly displayed when customers buy a drink and separately itemised on receipts and digital orders. Consumers should be able to avoid the charge entirely by using crockery or a reusable cup.
The recommendation is based on research conducted for the purpose of the policy brief, which examined how people respond to disposable cup charges and what prevents them from adopting reusable alternatives. This included a field experiment across three university cafés, surveys of café customers, interviews with consumers and discussions with policy, retail and behavioural science experts.
The researchers found that making the cost of a single-use cup explicit can influence more environmental purchasing decisions, strengthening the case for a charge that is visible and consistent rather than voluntary and variable.
We already know that a small, visible charge can change behaviour through the experience of single-use carrier bag charges. Applying the same principle to cups could help make reuse a more normal part of everyday life.
Dr Kate Whitman, Revolution Plastics Institute
They say a clear national cup-charging framework could help create the conditions for reuse systems to expand. These include customers bringing their own cups, cafés operating returnable cup schemes and shared collection and washing systems operating across multiple retailers.
Disposable cups also place a burden on public services. They account for around 8 per cent of litter by volume in England, adding to street cleaning and waste management costs. Reducing unnecessary consumption could help create cleaner public spaces while reducing pressure on local authority services and budgets.
Dr Whitman said: "This is about creating a consistent system that works for consumers and businesses. A clear charge would give people the same message wherever they buy a takeaway drink, while giving businesses greater certainty about the rules and creating stronger conditions for investment and innovation in reusable cup systems.
"We already know that a small, visible charge can change behaviour through the experience of single-use carrier bag charges. Applying the same principle to cups could help make reuse a more normal part of everyday life and support the UK's wider move towards preventing waste rather than simply managing it."
The policy landscape is already moving in this direction. The Scottish Government has committed to introducing a charge on single-use beverage cups, while the European Union's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation places greater emphasis on reducing packaging waste and increasing reuse and refill.
The researchers say a consistent approach across the UK would reduce complexity for businesses operating across national borders and provide greater confidence to invest in reusable cup products, washing facilities and the infrastructure needed to support reuse at scale.
You can read the full policy brief document here .
