The Paper Cup Recycling Scheme
The co-cre8 paper cup recycling scheme enables all stakeholders involved in the paper cup lifecycle to collaborate towards a common objective of recycling the equivalent weight of cups that our Members place on the market.
We provide our Members with a layered solution comprising direct collection, post-back and backhaul (where applicable). This ensures that used paper cups are collected and recycled in the most environmentally, operationally and cost-effective manner.
Members can also participate in CupLotto®; an innovative new lottery which encourages consumers to recycle used paper cups throughout the UK. In return for binning their cup at participating outlets, users can enter the free prize draw to win regular spot prizes and a weekly jackpot of £1,000.
Membership Benefits
- Access to our UK-wide collection service
- Secure web portal providing site specific and consolidated collection data
- Expert guidance on how to implement paper cup collection at site
- Exclusive rental opportunities for the co-cre8 range of cup collection units
- Invitation to our bi-annual webinar
- Exclusive opportunity to participate in CupLotto®
- For obligated sites, compliance with UK Mandatory Take Back Legislation (2025)
If you’re interested in joining the co-cre8 paper cup recycling scheme, or just want more information, click the button and send us a message.
Paper Cup Collection Service Overview
Direct Collection
Our direct collection service offers the opportunity for businesses to have their paper cups collected directly from site via our transport network and sack tracking system. If your business generates a regular and significant number of used cups then our direct collection service will provide you with a highly cost-effective solution compared to your existing ‘general waste’ collection.
As well as saving money, you’ll also have the reassurance that your used paper cups will be recycled in the UK and you will have access to industry leading real-time reporting including actual weight data, providing you with complete transparency of the process. We can even help you turn those cups into useful products that you can use back in your business.
How Does It Work?
(1) Assessment
We can help you assess the volume of cups that require direct collection from either single or multiple sites. We then determine the number of cup collection units required (internal/external) and the frequency of collection in order to maximise your cost-savings. We have a wide range of engaging, front of house cup collection units to suit your operational needs; all of which are customisable to provide you with the opportunity to apply your own branding and messaging.
We can also supply you with space saving back of house storage units, 1100L containers and tube liners in readiness for collection.
Click on the Cost Savings tab for more detailed information.
(2) Implementation
We will firstly sign you up as a scheme Member and agree a launch date. We will then use our considerable expertise of implementing cup collection systems to ensure a seamless launch at site. Working alongside you, we will coordinate all deliveries, provide guidance on training for on-site operatives and assist you with material to promote your new service.
Click on the Implementation tab for more detailed information.
(3) Optimise Performance
Once launched, we can continually evaluate and refine the service using reporting data and site feedback to deliver further efficiencies and cost savings.
Click on the Reporting tab for more detailed information.
(4) Cup Reprocessing and New Products
You have the assurance that all of the used cups that we collect will be recycled at specialist paper cup reprocessing facilities in the UK. Furthermore, we can also work with you to explore exciting opportunities to turn the volume of cups you generate back into new products, such as office stationery and supplies, that you can use in your business.
Post Back
Our post-back service provides a cost-effective solution for sites that either do not generate a sufficient volume of paper cups and / or are unable to store a sufficient volume of paper cups to justify a direct collection service.
How Does It Work?
(1) Order Starter Kit
Starter Kits can be ordered directly from co-cre8 and incorporate the following:
- 12 months scheme Membership
- 4 x post-back boxes
- 4 x barcoded collection sacks
- 1 x reusable collection box lid / divider
(2) Assemble the Collection Box
Once received, the collection boxes are assembled as follows:
Build Cardboard Box
Insert Barcoded Sack
Assemble Lid / Divider
Insert Lid / Divider
(3) Fill A Collection Box
Used paper cups are then stacked in each of the 9 compartments.
The co-cre8 range of dedicated Cup Collection Stations can also be used in customer facing front of house areas to complement this process.
(4) Prepare For Collection
Maximum efficiency is achieved by ensuring the collection box is full before scheduling a collection, each with a capacity as follows:
- 675 x 9oz single wall paper cups (75 per compartment)
- 450 x 12oz single wall paper cups (50 per compartment)
- 405 x 20oz single wall paper cups (45 per compartment)
We strongly recommend that each collection box is only used for a maximum 3-month period, so as to ensure that collected paper cups are still suitable for onward recycling.
Once each compartment has been filled, remove the collection lid / divider, make a record of the 13-digit barcode on the collection sack label, tie off the collection sack and securely close the box lid. You are now ready to schedule your collection.
(5) Schedule Collection
Collection requests are made online either by scanning the QR code on the collection box or via www.co-cre8.earth/postback.
In addition to providing site details and available collection days, you are also required to input the 13-digit barcode number from the collection sack label, which enables us to subsequently provide weight data once the sack has been weighed.
You will then receive an e-mail notification of your collection request and, soon after, an e-mail notification and instructions once the collection is scheduled.
(6) Re-Order
New post-back boxes and barcoded collection sacks can be ordered directly from co-cre8.
For all subsequent orders, there is no need to re-order the plastic collection box lid / divider as this is reusable. You will also be contacted to renew your annual Membership one year from the date of your first order.
Cost Savings
Collecting stacked paper cups stacked, rather than loosely bagged, will significantly reduce both the number of collection sacks required and also collection costs.
| Single Wall Cups | 457 x 737 x 991mm Sack | ||
| Size | Loose | Stacked | Volume Ratio |
| 9oz | 130 | 675 | 1:5 |
| 12oz | 85 | 450 | 1:5 |
| 20oz | 50 | 405 | 1:8 |
From our vast experience implementing paper cup collection systems, the use of dedicated paper cup collection units are fundamental to maximizing efficiency and minimising cost.
Front of House Units – Customer Facing
The co-cre8 range of user-friendly cup collection units are proven to collect paper cups stacked and free from contamination.
The full range is listed in our Cup Collection Stations section of our website, with all of the units delivering the following benefits:
- Designed to Increase awareness to maximise user engagement and segregate material capture
- Effectively reduces contamination by using transparent tubes
- Features different apertures for cups, lids and liquids
- Incorporates removable tubes for easy cleaning
- Bespoke branding to meet site requirements
Back of House Units / Post-Back Boxes
Maximum efficiency is realised by ensuring that the collection sacks are full prior to being presented for collection. This can be achieved by transferring the stacked paper cups, collected in customer facing front of house units, into the back of house storage unit, as illustrated below:
1. Assemble bin and lid.
2. Insert barcode collection sack.
3. Decant used cups.
4. Empty only when full.
In addition to cost reduction, there are further commercial benefits from the separate collection of stacked paper cups at site:
- Reduces contamination in other targeted recycling streams
- Reduces the number of times other bins need to be emptied
- Reduces liquid in other bins and spill risks from split sacks
- Reduces space required for waste storage back of house or externally
How To Implement Cup Collection at Site
The co-cre8 team has unrivalled expertise in designing, implementing and managing paper cup collection systems within many different environments.
With our support, this simple 4-step process enables scheme Members to set up and operate an efficient and cost-effective paper cup system at site.
(1) Choose Collection Service
We offer scheme Members a layered solution ensuring that paper cups are collected and recycled in the most environmentally, operationally and cost-effective manner. These services comprise of:
- Direct site collection on an agreed frequency
- Post-back on demand
- Backhaul – subject to collaboration with supply chain partner(s)
Once we know the number and locations of sites requiring service, together with the estimated volume of paper cups at each site, we can then provide you with a quote for scheme Membership and collection.
(2) Purchase Cup Collection Units
The next step is to purchase the required number of dedicated cup collection units for use in both front of house (customer facing) and back of house areas.
We provide a range of intuitive and user-friendly Cup Collection Stations that are proven to collect paper cups stacked and free from contamination.
Scheme Members also have an exclusive opportunity to rent any cup collection unit from the co-cre8 range (subject to a minimum 2-year agreement).
(3) Site Launch
Once you’ve become a scheme Member, and received your barcoded collection sacks and cup collection stations, the next stage is to go-live. We will then assist you with a smooth and effective launch at site, by achieving the following:
Operational Understanding
Prior to launch, we will help you provide all of your site operatives with clear communications and training to ensure that everyone is familiar with the new paper cup collection system and associated processes.
Customer Awareness
Once the system is live, it is essential to take every opportunity to make everyone aware that they now have the ability to recycle their paper cups at site. From experience, pro-active and positive encouragement for both employees and customers to participate will increasingly foster a culture of sustainability at site.
(4) Optimise Performance
The accuracy and availability of data provided to scheme Members by our sack tracking system enables continual performance monitoring and identifies opportunities to deliver further efficiencies and cost reduction.
Based on our current understanding, our system will also enable obligated Member sites to comply with the reporting requirements of the proposed DEFRA UK Mandatory Take Back Scheme legislation, should it be implemented in 2025.
Reporting
co-cre8 operates a simple app-based system using data from barcoded collection sacks. This allows scheme Members to gain complete transparency of the paper cup collection process and precise data to facilitate performance management and on-going improvement.
Based on our current understanding, our system will also enable obligated Member sites to comply with the reporting requirements of the proposed DEFRA UK Mandatory Take Back Scheme legislation, should it be implemented in 2025.
System Benefits
- Live tracking of the end-to-end paper cup collection process via a secure web portal
- Stock management and automatic re-ordering of collection sacks*
- Provision of exact weight of paper cups collected per site per Member
- Automated solution to identify and report contamination
*Not applicable to post-back services
Account Structure
Our system enables scheme Members to create a customisable account hierarchy, establishing clear relationships between stakeholders through a simple parent-child structure.
Members can therefore create an account structure that meets their own requirements and authorisation levels.
Real-time data is available at every level of the account hierarchy, ensuring full transparency across the entire process.
Sack Distribution*
Bags or rolls of empty sacks are scanned and allocated when delivered at each level of the account hierarchy, providing real-time visibility of stock levels.
Minimum stock levels can also be set to automate new orders for collection sacks.
*Not applicable to post-back as barcoded sack provided with each collection box
Sack Collection
Full sacks can be scanned multiple times and at any point in the collection process, recording the precise time and GPS location.
Each sack is then individually weighed, generating the exact weight per sack. All sack data, including collection details and weight, is instantly uploaded to our secure web portal, accessible only by authorised users.
Preventing Contamination
At any point during the collection process, when full barcoded sacks are scanned, our system enables contaminated sacks to be reported.
If contamination is identified, a photograph of the affected sack is taken and the type of contamination is recorded from a pre-defined drop-down menu.
An automated message, including photographic evidence, is generated and sent to the site, including guidance and training as a corrective measure.
Optimise Performance
Real-time summary data is presented on a dashboard, while users can access more detailed reports as required.
The accuracy and availability of data not only enables us to pro-actively identify and resolve issues, but is also key to continually ensuring the best operational and commercial outcomes for our Members.
Keshari joined the co-cre8 team in 2022 and is responsible for the daily management of the business finances including financial reporting, purchase ledger, sales ledger and building relationships with customers and suppliers.
Wayne joined the co-cre8 team in 2022 and brings more than two decade’s worth of operational and commercial experience in the food service packaging and waste management sectors. With co-cre8’s portfolio of three business divisions, Wayne spreads his unrivalled skillset across multiple activities including for our Honest brand, internal Waste and Recycling Stations and System Design partnership projects. Wayne plays a key role in ensuring co-cre8’s operations are commercially viable, building and maintaining great relationships with suppliers, ensuring the smooth success of projects and keeping a smile on everyone’s face!
We welcomed Hannah to the team in January 2022 to grow and develop our Built Environment business division. Hannah brings a wealth of skills to the team including her fantastic communication and eye for detail.
Katie joined the team in December 2021, and plays a key role in supporting the Sales and Marketing Manager with all sales and marketing activity across the co-cre8 and Honest brands. Katie’s main responsibilities include pro-actively developing and reactively managing business-to-business sales opportunities, processing orders, general customer service and supporting with the creation and delivery of marketing campaigns.
Prior to co-founding co-cre8 in 2019, Peter spent 10 years as a UK Director of Closed Loop Environmental Solutions. With a passion for recycling and, as one of the UK’s leading exponents of promoting more circular solutions, Peter created and delivered many pioneering industry projects, most notably the Simply Cups scheme.
James has over 20 years’ experience in the waste and recycling industry. Starting with just one second hand truck, he founded and developed Simply Waste Solutions into a thriving, profitable business with a £35m turnover. In 2020, James decided that he was ready for new challenges and took Simply Waste to a successful exit, selling to Biffa plc for £40m.
Natalie joins the co-cre8 team with extensive knowledge and experience in waste, recycling, and circular business models, with her speciality in Finance. For the last 17 years, Natalie has worked, and was a shareholder, in a start-up, high growth to exit waste and recycling business, with 15 years spent at board level.
Georgia joined the team at co-cre8 in 2020 and is responsible for developing the business through creative thinking and effective communication via sales and marketing channels.
Rachel originally joined the co-cre8 team in 2019 as Customer Service Specialist for Simply Cups. Her role has since evolved, following the launch of the Built Environment range, where she now heads up all logistics including supplier liaising, order processing and general operations of the business.