A report published via Phys.org calls on the U.K. government to introduce a charge on disposable cups. The measure is intended to address the environmental burden of single-use cups, which are used roughly 2.5 billion times per year in the country.
The report notes that fewer than 1% of these cups are recycled. It argues that the cups contribute to litter, contaminate recycling streams, and raise waste management and street cleaning costs for local authorities and taxpayers.
Because the report is the sole source, no independent comparison is available. Its central recommendation is a government-imposed charge, similar to levies already applied to other single-use items, to reduce consumption and improve recycling outcomes.