Single use items (2018)

Response

1. How many a) take away cups, b)  take away boxes for hot food and c) clear plastic boxes for cakes were used in the catering outlets in the House of Commons each year, for the last 3 years?
   And
2. Which, if any, of the take away containers used in the House of Commons were 100% biodegradable?

We have understood your request to be for the number of items purchased by the House in the last three complete calendar years: 2015, 2016 and 2017. This information is held by the House of Commons. Details of the specified take away containers purchased in the calendar years 2015 - 2017 are provided here. Where items were biodegradable, specific numbers are also given.

a) take away cups
2015 – 529,000 purchased
2016 – 619,000 purchased
2017 – 662.895 purchased

b)  take away boxes for hot food
2015 – 225,200 purchased, of which 156,000 were biodegradable
2016 – 293,375 purchased, of which 209,875 were biodegradable
2017 – 307,625 purchased, of which 212,625 were biodegradable

Please note that we purchase a range of different hot food containers for different applications, the containers used for soups are poly lined and not currently biodegradable, but our hot food take out boxes (in various sizes) are pressure formed bagasse and are all biodegradable. 

c) clear plastic boxes for cakes
2015 – 300 purchased
2016 – 2,100 purchased
2017 – 3,300 purchased