A POPULAR Trowbridge cafe has called on other shops to use recycled coffee cups so that they don't need to worry about the mooted 25p charge proposed by MPs.

Owner of Leykers Coffee Central, Tracy Parker, says that the 'latte levy', a charge floated by MPs in a bid to get all throwaway cups recycled by 2023, is not a bad idea but that coffee chains and other places should pay a bit more money and use recycled cups instead to help the environment.

For eight years now, Mrs Parker, who has run the White Hard Yard shop for nearly two decades, has had to pay a bit more for all her cups and cutlery, bought from compostable packaging company Vegware, but she says it is worth it.

"The reason the big boys won't turn to these recycling ways is because it is too expensive and they want their big profits," she said.

"The spoons, cups, knives and forks we use are made from corn starch, plants and other recycled goods. It is quite big news at the moment about a tax coming in. If we all chip in we can do our bit to help the planet.

"We went to a trade show and Vegware showed off their work and I said, 'We have to do this,' and so we have. Sure it is a bit more expensive but it is for the good of the environment."

A report published by MPs on the environmental audit committee revealed that in the UK alone, 2.5 billion takeaway coffee cups are used and thrown away each year.