Coffee lovers and tea enthusiasts visiting Basingstoke town centre can pick up a free reusable cup to help reduce waste and cut carbon under a new scheme.

In the run up to Basingstoke Green Week kicking off on Saturday 10 June with a day of events and activities in Basingstoke town centre, The Gabardine Bar and Willows at the Top of the Town in Basingstoke are each giving away 100 reusable cups for free to customers purchasing a hot drink to take away.

Under the project launched by Sustainable Basingstoke, its branded reusable cups are available at the cafés while stocks last and feature a QR code linking to its website.

To encourage customers to make the switch more permanently, Willows and The Gabardine Bar offer customers 25p off the price of a hot drink if they bring a reusable cup.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for the Climate and Ecological Emergency Cllr Chris Tomblin said: “Many of us enjoy grabbing a coffee from our local café but disposable cups have a real and hidden impact. Not only is carbon emitted when they are made and transported, but globally their production involves cutting down millions of trees and wasting billions of gallons of water each year.

“Swapping to reusable items is a great way to play your part for a more sustainable borough and planet. By popping into one of these cafés to pick up a hot drink in one of these reusable cups, you will be helping to support a local business too.”

For more tips on sustainable living, see www.sustainable-basingstoke.co.uk.

Basingstoke Green Week is a yearly celebration of climate and environment action that is organised by communities and supported by the council. This year’s week runs from Saturday 10 to Sunday 18 June. For the full programme, see www.basingstoke.gov.uk/green-week.