Q: Why are we removing disposable coffee cups?
The department is phasing out disposable cups for two key reasons:
• We originally switched to compostable cups and plates made from plant-based materials (e.g. Vegware™). But changes to UK waste legislation – and the way our contractors process waste – mean these items now end up in general waste rather than a composting or recycling stream.
• A recent departmental bin audit showed that single-use items like cups and plates make up a significant portion of our non-recyclable waste. We want to reduce how much we’re sending to this stream.
Q: What happens to our current Vegware™ cups and plates?
They now need to go in the non-recyclable bin. This waste is used to create Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) – a form of energy recovery that’s marginally better than landfill, but still not ideal from a sustainability point of view.
Q: What recent legislation has changed?
The University has updated its waste handling to comply with the Separation of Waste Regulations 2024, which came into force on 1 April 2025. These DEFRA regulations require all businesses with 10 or more full-time employees to separate waste into four distinct streams before collection.
Q: What if I don’t have a cup?
Disposable cups will still be available in limited numbers until October 2025. After that, if you don’t have your own, you can:
• Buy a reusable one from Reception or the Servery
• Use a ceramic mug from the café (if you’re staying put)
Q: Can I use a disposable cup for the free tea?
For the next couple of months, yes. But from October 2025, you’ll need to bring your own – or use a department mug if one’s available*.
*If you do take a department mug, you will be required to sit locally so we don’t lose more of our limited mug stock*
Q: Why doesn’t the department provide more reusable cups for staff?
We have – hundreds of them. But many haven’t been returned, and constantly replacing them isn’t sustainable given our limited catering budget.
Q: Can we just switch to recyclable paper cups instead?
In general, no. Most so-called ‘recyclable’ cups have a plastic or wax lining that’s hard to separate – and very few UK facilities can actually recycle them. Our current contractor doesn’t accept paper cups in the recycling stream.
Q: Are there any recyclable cup options?
We’re looking into it. If you’ve come across a practical, tested solution that actually works, let the catering team know: catering@ceb.cam.ac.uk
Q: I work in another department, and they don’t seem to have this issue. Why?
Different departments have different waste contracts or facilities. If you know of a successful, sustainable model elsewhere in the University, we’d love to hear about it – email catering@ceb.cam.ac.uk.
Q: Why are reusable cups in the café so expensive?
They’re sold at cost – we don’t make a penny from them. But the University requires suppliers to meet strict ethical sourcing and modern slavery standards, which rules out cheap imports. The price reflects those commitments.