Dr Thérése Coffey MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Department for Environment Nobel House T 03459 335577 «17 Smith Square defra.helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk Food & Rural Affairs London swiP UR wwwgov.ukidefra Catherine Bearder MEP European Parliament Our ref: MC413667/MP Bat. Altiero Spinelli 106138 October 2016 60, rue Wiertz B-1047 Brussels den Wo het? Thank you for your letter of 30 September to the Secretary of State about the recycling of disposable coffee cups. | am replying as the Minister responsible for environmental issues. Under the Packaging Waste Regulations, producers that put more than 50 tonnes of packaging materials on the market a year and have an annual tumover of more than £2 million must recover and recycle a proportion of their packaging waste. Most major coffee chains pick up a financial obligation to recycle their packaging waste, including cups, through this mechanism Many major chains are taking their own action to incentivise environmentally friendly behaviour, for example, offering a discount on drinks if customers bring their own cup. The industry has also established a Paper Cup Recycling and Recovery Group (www.pcrra.uk) to examine the issue alongside the Foodservice Packaging Association. This includes a pledge to increase recycling rates significantly by 2020 and a manifesto signed by 45 companies. Yours sincerely, Wy DR THERESE COFFEY MP