The UK’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has cancelled the proposed mandatory takeback scheme for single-use cups in the country, following an analysis showing that the scheme would cost the government and industry £52m ($65.9m).

The extensive analysis claimed that the costs would outweigh the environmental and economic benefits and was believed to be an ‘unnecessary burden’ on businesses.

The scrapped single-use cup scheme was initially designed to increase recycling rates and reduce litter.

The plan would have obligated cafés to recycle disposable paper cups. The previous government had suggested that coffee shops with more than ten employees would be required to provide bins and arrange for the recycling of fibre-based composite cups.

In the UK, it is estimated that between 2.5 and three billion coffee cups are discarded each year. The initial plan was for shops to install dedicated bins for cups starting in 2024, but the implementation was postponed to 2025 to give sellers more time to comply with the new regulations.

A spokesperson from Defra said: “This decision allows businesses to concentrate on implementing our other packaging and collection reforms. These initiatives are expected to support 21,000 jobs and stimulate more than £10bn in investment in recycling capabilities over the next decade.”

Earlier this year, the plans were put on hold by the former government to allow for further engagement with stakeholders. However, this move has ultimately led to the scheme's cancellation due to its high costs and questionable effectiveness.

The spokesperson added: “This government is committed to ending the throwaway culture and transitioning towards a future where resources are reused for longer, and waste is minimised, all while accelerating progress towards net zero.”

The UK has advanced in packaging waste recycling, though challenges persist in meeting material-specific targets, driven by producer responsibility regulations.