#TakeItBack

Did you know you can #TakeItBack to recycle paper cups in-store?

Latest research suggests over 388 million single-use cups are used in Scotland each year*. At best, 4% of these cups are recycled. The rest end up as waste: in landfill, the incinerator or as litter.

Keep Scotland Beautiful have been working with Glasgow City Council, Dundee City Council, the National Cup Recycling Scheme (NCRS), it’s members (including McDonald's, Burger King, Costa Coffee, Caffè Nero, Pret A Manger, and Greggs), Starbucks and Hubbub, to raise awareness of the opportunities across Glasgow and Dundee to #TakeItBack and #ChooseToReuse. You can take any brand of single-use coffee cup to the partnered locations for recycling.

See our #TakeItBack Case Study details below or download here for more information and to see our key findings and key learnings to help increase recycling of single-use cups.

See the National Cup Recycling Scheme's map for locations to #TakeItBack.

* Zero Waste Scotland (2022) Consumption of Single-use Disposable Beverage Cups in Scotland

Help make the shift towards more sustainable consumption.

Key findings and Key learnings from #TakeItBack

What did the #TakeItBack campaign involve?

Recycle your single-use paper cups in-store today.

You can take any brand of paper cup to many stores across Glasgow and Dundee to be recycled.

Typical single-use hot drink cups can not go into standard recycling bins or be recycled at home. To avoid cups ending up in landfill, it is really important to #TakeItBack.

So, even if you forget your reusable cup, you can still help reduce the impact of single use if you #TakeItBack.

Where to #TakeItBack?

Check the National Cup Recycling Scheme's map for locations across Scotland to #TakeItBack.

... and ask whether cup recycling is available at your local store.

See our reel as a reminder

The #TakeItBack Key Learnings are:

Staff engagement and training are essential at a store level.
Clear, visible in-store campaign signage must be in place.
In-store cup recycling infrastructure must be in place and clearly visible.
Data from stores on the volume of cups sent to recycling is essential.
Public education is needed to reduce consumption, as well as on the correct disposal of single-use cups.