A NEW recycling initiative has been launched to make better use of coffee cups – a UK first.

Packaging manufacturer, Huhtamaki, have partnered with Gosport Borough Council to trial a new recycling initiative which will see paper cups and lids recycled and turned into new products.

The launch of the scheme came ahead of calls from from the House of Common’s Environmental Audit Committee for all disposable coffee cups to be recycled by 2023.

The committee is calling on the Government to introduce a 25p charge on coffee sold in disposable cups – the so-called ‘Latte levy” – with the money raised used to improve the UK’s reprocessing facilities and “binfrastructure”.

Some shops already give discounts to customers who bring their own cups but these only represent around one or two per cent of the coffees purchased each year.

The committee is also calling on the Government to penalise producers who make packaging that is difficult to recycle.

The Gosport scheme, will see two specialist cup recycling bins for paper cups and lids placed at Gosport town hall and the leisure centre, both of which are owned by the council.

Huhtamaki will then collect the waste ensure it is recycled rather than going to landfill.

New products including garden furniture, park benches and flower tubs will then be made from recycled materials.

Council leader Mark Hook said: “We’re one of the first boroughs to try such a scheme, and it’s a great opportunity to show how councils and manufacturers can be ambitious in finding innovative ways to recycle.

“I look forward to working with Huhtamaki on this important issue.”

Finnish-owned Huhtamaki’s Gosport plant is one of the biggest manufacturers of paper cups in the UK.

Neil Whittall, global category director for speciality coffee at Huhtamaki added: “We have worked on a number of recycling initiatives with customers, consumers and charitable organisations, but this is the first where our primary partner in the scheme is a local authority.

“We are looking forward to contributing towards increased recycling rates in Gosport Borough.”