Huhtamaki part of coffee cup recycling plan in UK

Finland-based paper products manufacturer Huhtamaki has announced it will be establishing a paper cup recycling initiative in Gosport, United Kingdom. The program, according to Huhtamaki, is the first of its kind in the U.K.

Created through a partnership between the Gosport Borough Council and Huhtamaki, the pilot program will cover the collection and recycling of used coffee cups collected in public spaces and at offices.

As part of the program, the two parties will provide dedicated cup recycling bins at various sites in Gosport, with plans to include public spaces, local offices and transport hubs as collection points.

“I am very pleased to see Gosport Borough Council and local industry coming together to take positive action to increase the recycling of cups,” says Thérèse Coffey, a member of the U.K. Parliament and its Environmental Minister. “Tackling paper and coffee cup waste is a vital way to protect our environment, and this is a great example of how collaborative action can have a real impact to make recycling even easier.”

The initiative is underwritten by Huhtamaki and will go live in February 2018.

“The cups we manufacture in Gosport are sustainably sourced, responsibly produced and fully recyclable,” says Neil Whittall of Huhtamaki. “However, we recognize that many are not being recycled, and we are actively working to change this. Improving cup collection and recycling infrastructure in Gosport will help local people make a difference and improve recycling rates. We hope this new initiative will create a blueprint for similar schemes across the U.K.”