AI-Powered Cup Recycling Scheme Trials in the UK with Costa Coffee, McDonald’s, and More

The UK’s battle with single-use cup waste takes a significant step forward with a groundbreaking new initiative aimed at revolutionizing the recycling of paper cups. A pilot program launched in Cardiff is combining cutting-edge AI technology with consumer incentives, offering a fresh approach to waste management.

The scheme is being trialed by major brands including Costa Coffee, McDonald’s, Pret a Manger, Greggs, and Caffe Nero. For the next three months, consumers will be able to recycle their used paper cups at designated locations and receive a 5p reward for each one returned. The initiative is powered by a joint fund from the National Cup Recycling Scheme, with Bower, a waste-sorting app, at the heart of the program. This technology uses photographic detection to enable customers to scan their cups effortlessly — no need for barcodes or QR codes.

Bower’s AI Technology Leads the Way

Bower’s pioneering AI object detection technology is a first-of-its-kind solution developed in collaboration with tech giant Google. The system’s photographic capabilities allow for quick and accurate recognition of paper cups, making the recycling process faster and more efficient. By scanning their cups with the Bower app, customers are rewarded with instant incentives, encouraging greater participation.

Darren Hughes, Costa Coffee’s waste and recycling specialist, commented on the initiative, stating, “This pilot is an exciting opportunity to test new ways to engage customers and reward them for recycling their cups. By working together with our partners, we can continue to innovate and find practical solutions that make recycling easier and more accessible for everyone.”

The goal of this pilot is not just to collect recycled cups but also to gather valuable data. Surveys conducted by Valpak, the administrator of the National Cup Recycling Scheme, alongside Keep Wales Tidy, will track demographic reach, app usage, and overall public engagement. This data will be used to refine the program and ensure its success in future phases.

Raising Awareness and Tackling the Waste Crisis

While the technology is groundbreaking, the scheme also aims to increase awareness about the importance of recycling. Keep Wales Tidy is spearheading a public campaign to educate citizens about the need to reduce single-use cup waste. The UK disposes of around 2.5 billion paper cups every year, with most of them ending up in landfills or becoming litter. This is despite the fact that the majority of these cups are made from high-quality fibre, which can be recycled into other products like paper packaging or biome cards.

Valpak’s national cup recycling manager, Hannah Osman, stressed the importance of collaboration in tackling waste. “By funding this project, we are helping to drive real change in consumer recycling habits while ensuring valuable cup materials are kept in circulation,” she said. “Collaboration is key to tackling waste, and this pilot demonstrates how brands, technology, and communities can come together to create practical solutions that drive real environmental impact.”

Addressing the Recycling Challenges

The initiative also seeks to address a critical issue in recycling: the polyethene lining used in many paper cups, which complicates the recycling process. While the UK has the facilities to process polyethene-lined cups, only a small percentage of these cups are recycled—with just 2.8% being recycled as of 2019, despite the infrastructure being available.

Bower’s system, combined with consumer rewards and the increased accessibility of recycling stations, is expected to help raise recycling rates and provide a model for future initiatives. The collaboration between businesses, technology companies, and environmental organizations is paving the way for a more sustainable future.

The success of this pilot program could lead to its expansion across the UK, providing an easier, more rewarding way for consumers to recycle their paper cups and contribute to environmental sustainability. As the world continues to grapple with the challenges of single-use waste, this innovative initiative shows how technology and collaboration can play a key role in reducing our environmental footprint.

Source: Sustainable Times