Square Mile Challenge

Square Mile Challenge

Coffee cup recycling has been a contentious issue over the last year. Whilst made from cardboard, the plastic finish and plastic lids make recycling less straight forward. In addition, few coffee chains provide designated recycling facilities and many consumers don’t use recycling facilities properly when they are provided.

Do we look to the cup manufacturers to find alternative materials? Should the retailers pay a recycling tax? Would the introduction of a coffee cup fee encourage consumers to invest in reusable cups/mugs?

It’s easy to expect others to deal with the problem, but a complex issue needs a collective resolution. This is exactly the approach being adopted in the Square Mile Challenge. Coffee retailers, private employers, public services, the Hubbub charity and Simply Cups, a specialist cup recycling company, have pulled together in a bid for change.

Recycling Target

April saw the launch of the scheme. Bright yellow cup recycling bins are now located on the main thoroughfares through the city. These have certainly made the Challenge difficult to ignore!

In addition to these bins, Network Rail has introduced coffee cup collections at Liverpool Street Station and Cannon Street Station, whilst companies in the area have provided in-house recycling facilities for employees.

If the public use the facilities as intended, the vast majority of these cups will be collected and recycled by Simply Cups. The target is to see 5 million cups recycled in the Square Mile Challenge by the end of the year. If this target is achieved, coffee cups recycling will be aligned with recycling rates for plastic bottles and drink cans.

Taking Responsibility for Recycling

When everyone takes responsibility there can be a genuine shift in attitude and action. London City isn’t renowned for its strong sense of community, but with individuals and organisations pulling together, it will be possible to instigate change. It is hoped that the Challenge will encourage other communities across the UK to collectively embrace coffee cup recycling.

As a company which aims to minimise environmental impact, Aylesbury Box Company manufactures cardboard boxes from recycled materials. We are keen to minimise waste during box manufacturing processes and provide robust solutions that can be reused. When multiple materials are used in box production, we aim to make deconstruction easy, in order to actively encourage recycling.

We work in collaboration with many customers to ensure that their environmental credentials are embedded through the supply chain. Can we work with you towards positive change?