Waitrose to ditch disposable coffee cups from all stores by autumn

Waitrose says removing plastic cups from its stores will save 52 million cups a year (Picture: Waitrose)

Waitrose is to remove all disposable coffee cups from its in-store cafes in a move that will save 52 million cups a year.

Customers who are members of the myWaitrose loyalty scheme will still be able to get free tea and coffee from vending machines – but will be expected to use a “keep cup” or use their own mugs.

Disposable cups will be removed initially from nine supermarkets by the end of April: Banbury, Billericay, Ipswich, Newmarket, Norwich, Sudbury, Wymondham, Upminster, east London and Fitzroy Street, Cambridge. The scheme will then be rolled out to all its stores by the autumn.

MORE: Plastic tax could see disposable coffee cups, chewing gum and takeaway boxes hit by levy

According to the parliamentary Environmental Audit Committee, the UK throws away 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups a year, almost none of which are recycled, with the cups hard to recycle owing to the plastic lining.

Tor Harris, head of sustainability and responsible sourcing at Waitrose, said: “We realise this is a major change, but we believe removing all takeaway disposable cups is the right thing to do for our business and are confident the majority of customers will support the environmental benefits.

“It underlines our commitment to plastic and packaging reduction and our aim is to deliver this as quickly as possible.”

MORE: UK’s shopkeepers welcome moves to extend 5p plastic bag levy

Plastic cups could be hit with a “latte levy” of 25p (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Members of myWaitrose will not be able to claim their free hot drink in the chain’s 180 in-store cafes, to avoid customers without a reusable cup who cannot use the self-service machines putting increased pressure on the catering areas.

Instead, those members who purchase a tea or coffee in a cafe will get a choice of food options for free or with a significant discount, the company said.

MORE: Charging punters for their takeaway coffee cup could cut waste by 300 million a year

Holders of myWaitrose membership cards were previously able to get one coffee a day without additional purchase, but now have to buy one other item from the supermarket in order to get their hands on a free cup.

The Waitrose move comes as the government continues to mull the so-called “latte levy” which could see a 25p charge imposed on disposable cups, similar to the 5p tax on throwaway supermarket plastic bags.

Prime minister Theresa May has made tackling the issue of plastic waste a central plank of her time in No.10.