AN OTLEY supermarket has been congratulated by the local MP for pledging to end its use of disposable coffee cups.

Waitrose has committed to removing all of its takeaway disposable coffee cups by Autumn, 2018 - a move that will save more than 52 million cups a year.

MP Alex Sobel (Lab, Leeds North West) visited the chain's Otley store last week to hear about the plans and pick up a coffee in his own, re-usable cup.

He said: "I am pleased that Waitrose have taken this step and are looking to more environmentally friendly ways of delivering hot drinks to customers.

"Plastic pollution is a big global problem but there are things that businesses and individuals can do locally to reduce consumption.

"Many of us saw the upsetting images on Blue Planet II last year, which underlined the need to look to our own use and relationship with plastic.

"I am pleased that big supermarkets such as Waitrose and Iceland are playing their part in the effort."

The move is part of a wider push by Waitrose to reduce its impact on the environment by cutting back on the use of plastics and packaging.

The company has also pledged to:

*Replace plastic straws with paper versions in all its cafes by the end of April, and remove them from sale in its shops from September, 2018

*Not to sell any of its own-label food in black plastic beyond 2019

*Make all of its our own-label packaging widely recyclable, reusable, or home compostable by 2025.

Mr Sobel has made environmental issues one of his top priorities since being elected in 2017.

He has been a key supporter, as a member of the Environmental Audit Committee, of the 'Latte Levy' proposal - which would add a surcharge for disposable coffee cups.

The MP is also pushing for free water refills at service stations and takeaway restaurants, and has called for more public water fountains to help cut the demand for bottled water in plastic bottles.