RESIDENTS in Monmouthshire are still unable to recycle plastic-lined paper cups, despite a scheme in the Forest of Dean which allows residents across the border to do so.

Plastic-lined paper cups can now be recycled in the Forest of Dean thanks to a new initiative by the Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE UK) in partnership with the Forest of Dean District Council and Gloucestershire’s Joint Waste Team.

The new service enables paper cups - the sort commonly supplied by coffee shops to their customers and readily available at fast food outlets and petrol stations up and the down the country - to be recycled in the five dedicated food and drink carton recycling banks in the district.

Made from similar materials to food and drink cartons, the cups will be recycled using the same process at ACE UK’s recycling facility in Halifax. 

While plastic-lined cups can not be recycled in Monmouthshire, a spokesperson from Monmouthshire County Council said the body is encouraging retailers to switch from the controversial cups.

“The ACE Recycling company provides carton banks in Forest of Dean but not in Monmouthshire,” the spokesperson said. “Monmouthshire’s waste and recycling service collects food and beverage Tetra Pak cartons at the kerbside as this offers our residents an extensive service but we recognise that this precludes us from collecting a wider range including plastic-lined coffee cups.

“We are actively encouraging food and drinks retailers to make a switch from difficult-to-recycle materials like polystyrene trays and plastic straws and we will speak with ACE to see if the firm could work with us and our businesses to provide a similar outlet for these materials.”

Councillor Chris McFarling, Cabinet Member for the Environment at the Forest of Dean District Council said: ““All too regularly the packaging from ‘on-the-go’ food and drink items, and in particular coffee cups, will end up as roadside litter so this is also a great opportunity for residents to think about the wider implications and opt for a reusable drinks cup if they can. Most coffee shops are more than willing to fill a reusable cup brought from home.”