A new recycling scheme collected 6 tonnes or nearly half a million used paper cups at Reading and Leeds festivals this year as part of an initiative to ensure more paper cups are recycled.
The scheme saw collected paper cups transported for reprocessing and given a second life.
They will be turned into new products such as industrial strength tubes and cores, garden furniture and playmats.
Huhtamaki, a global specialist in food and drink packaging, co-funded the scheme with Carlsberg. They were working in partnership with organisers Festival Republic, festival single-use supplier Pronto Pack and specialist cup recycling organisation Simply Cups to improve the cleanliness and sustainability of the events.
Huhtamaki Director Neil Whittall said: “We are proud of the success of this measurably effective collection and recycling scheme as it clearly demonstrates that paper cups can be given a second life when consumers and infrastructure work together.
“We are committed to working across the industry with local authorities and waste management companies to improve local recycling processes and support consumer understanding to recycle their paper cups.”
“By creating a value for this recycled material we have highlighted the market that can exist for used coffee cups. We are committed to working across the industry with local authorities and waste management companies to improve local recycling processes and support consumer understanding to recycle their paper cups.”
Victoria Chapman, Sustainability Co-ordinator at Festival Republic said: “We wanted to show that by combining forces, we could not only enhance the cleanliness of the arena during the festival, but we could also ensure that the collected cups are recycled afterwards.”
The results of the scheme came shortly after the paper cup supply chain joined with high street coffee shops to announce that the established and extensive ACE UK recycling infrastructure will collect and process paper cups from 2018.
