Disposable cups, cutlery, napkins and drinking straws

Some are made of polystyrene or PETE which are types of plastics and sound like they can be recycled but unfortunately it is not something we can accept. The good news is the government has banned single-use plastic packaging as of October 2023. You're no longer allowed to use polystyrene food packaging and plastic cutlery.

This now means disposable cups and straws are made of a waxed coated paper or light weight cardboard and often marketed as being a sustainable and eco-Friendly option or biodegradable.  Again these sound like they should be easily recycled or even composted but unfortunately it is not something we can accept. The composting system needs to be of an industrial scale which we don't have and biodegradable items are usually made from a plant based material which is not recyclable although they may look like plastic.

Reduce

Take a refillable cup out with you, most coffee shops will fill it.

Take a portable and reusable cutlery set out with you

Reuse

Disposable coffee cups make good plant pots or posts for crafts

Recycle - in your household recycling bin

No thank you

Other places to recycle and other information

Disposable items are a regular feature of our local litter which can end up in our ditches, streams, rivers and beaches. This affects wildlife and contributes to local flooding.

Marine Litter

Keep Britain Tidy

Refuse bin

Yes please

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