UK researchers report that 92% of takeaway-drink customers do not know whether a disposable-cup fee is included in the price. Their brief urges a clear national charge shown at purchase and itemized on receipts and digital orders.
A news release says less than 1% of the roughly 2.5 billion single-use cups used annually in the UK are recycled. Researchers combined a field experiment at three university cafes with customer surveys, interviews and expert discussions; they found greener choices were more likely when the single-use cup cost was explicit. Existing reusable-cup discounts vary and can be easy to miss.
People could avoid the proposed charge by bringing a reusable cup or choosing one for a drink consumed on-site. Lead researcher Kate Whitman said a clear charge would make the less wasteful option easier to understand; researchers said a national standard could also help reuse systems expand.
