Government rejects latte levy
The UK’s throwaway culture is having a devastating impact on our streets, beaches and seas. Our report recommended practical solutions to the disposable packaging crisis. The government’s response shows that despite warm words they plan no real action. — Mary Creagh, chair Environmental Audit Committee
In an act of crass stupidity the UK government has rejected out of hand the latte levy.
This is to reject out of hand the evidence and proposals from the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee.
It is a kick in the teeth to the many indie coffee shops that have done the right thing, introduced KeepCup, compostable cups, offered a discount to those who bring in a clean KeepCup for a refill, and above all, encourage people to sit and relax with speciality coffee served in glass or ceramic.
It is a kick in the teeth to coffee drinkers who have bought a KeepCup, or better still relax in an indie coffee shop with speciality coffee served in glass or ceramic.
What the government has shown is that it is craven to Big Business. It has caved in to lobbying by the corporate coffee chains. The same chains, Starbucks and Caffe Nero that dodge tax, to which the government turns a blind eye.
2.5 billion disposable coffee cups are thrown away every year. Coffee cups that cannot be recycled, as what at first glance appears to be paper, is plastic-lined paper, and therein lies the problem, these plastic-lined cups cannot be recycled.
Plastic is a modern day curse, it is destroying our seas.
And what does the government do? Nothing. The government would rather pander to corporate greed.
Next time the government claims to care about the environment, respond with two words, latte levy.
Labour must commit now that one of the first acts on taking office will be to introduce a latte levy to take immediate effect.
