The National Cup Recycling Scheme has unveiled a £45,000 project fund aimed at fostering innovative initiatives that effectively capture and recycle on-the-go paper cups. This fund also seeks to promote the integration of these cups into kerbside recycling schemes, thereby preventing them from ending up in landfill. The competition will kick off in September, with the winner announced in December.
Hannah Osman, the manager of the scheme administered by Valpak by Reconomy, stated: “This new fund is a major investment to encourage innovation in cup recycling infrastructure and reuse. We are hoping to trigger scalable ideas that will make a real difference in the future.”
We welcome applications from any organization, business, or community, including partnerships and collaborations. Applicants can submit proposals targeting one of the following three focus areas:
Awareness campaigns – Creative and bold behavior change projects that promote paper cup recycling in workplaces, events, or public spaces.
Recycling infrastructure improvements – Innovative solutions to enhance cup collection, return, and sorting at high-footfall locations.
Research and Evidence Building – Comprehensive, novel research addressing critical challenges in paper cup recycling, such as boosting recyclability, improving recovery rates, and assessing environmental performance, or evaluating the feasibility of integrating these cups into household recycling schemes.
Shortlisted applicants will receive both financial and expert support to refine their proposals. Additionally, they will benefit from networking opportunities, referrals to relevant stakeholders, and assistance in preparing their final presentations. The top three shortlisted projects will develop comprehensive project proposals and participate in a final interview with a judging panel comprised of NCRS brands.
The National Cup Recycling Scheme stands as the UK’s largest paper cup recycling initiative. Funded by prominent brands—including Costa Coffee, McDonald’s, Pret a Manger, Caffè Nero, Lavazza Professional, Greggs, and Burger King—it unites major retailers, waste management companies, and UK paper mills to enhance the collection and recycling rates of paper cups nationwide.
Since its inception, the scheme has successfully recycled 233 million cups into high-quality products, such as food and drink packaging, stationery, and even Remembrance Day poppies.
More information regarding this fund will be available upon its launch in September. Interested applicants can learn more at Beyond the Bin Fund | Recycling Paper Cups.
