Cardiff Bower Project
Return your cup and earn 50p
The Cardiff Plovie App Project is an innovative initiative aimed at making paper cup recycling easier and more engaging for everyone. With a strong focus on waste reduction and promoting sustainable behaviours, the Plovie waste sorting app leverages incentives to motivate individuals and businesses to recycle more effectively.
A collaboration for change
How it works
The three-month pilot will encourage Cardiff residents to recycle their used paper cups at participating Caffè Nero, Costa Coffee, Greggs, McDonald’s, and Pret a Manger stores in return for a 50p reward.
Customers purchasing drinks in paper cups from these retailers can:
- Download the Plovie waste sorting app
- Scan their cup
- Return it to a participating store for proper recycling
Each returned cup earns a 5p reward via the app, making recycling both simple and worthwhile.
Why it matters
This initiative is a unique collaboration between competing brands, uniting in the fight against landfill waste. While reusable cup use is on the rise, single-use cups remain a significant challenge, with an estimated 2.5 billion paper cups disposed of each year in the UK, many of which end up in landfill due to improper recycling.
About the Plovie app
The Plovie App is a user-friendly platform designed to help residents and businesses in Cardiff engage in paper cup recycling. It offers tools to manage and recycle waste more efficiently, and turns recycling into a fun and rewarding experience.
By offering real incentives, Plovie encourages environmentally responsible behaviours that support waste reduction and resource conservation.
Pilot timeline
The pilot runs from 22 April for three months, giving Cardiff residents and visitors the opportunity to take part in a pioneering recycling initiative.
All you need to do is:
Download the Plovie app, scan your cup, return it, and earn rewards—while helping to keep Wales tidy.
Simply scan your cup and recycle at participating stores
Full list of participating sites...
Caffe Nero, St David’s Shopping Centre
Caffe Nero, Trinity St
Costa Coffee, The Hayes
Costa Coffee, St David’s Shopping Centre
Costa Coffee, Queen St
Costa Coffee, Kingsway
Costa Coffee, Park Place
Costa Coffee, Cardiff Central Train Station
Greggs, Central Square
Greggs, The Hayes
Greggs, Caroline St
Greggs, St David’s Shopping Centre
Greggs, St Mary's St
Greggs, 34 Queen St
Greggs, 140 Queen St
Greggs, Park Place
Greggs, Cardiff University Park Place
McDonald’s, St Mary's St
McDonald’s, Queen St
Pret a Manger, Central Square
Pret a Manger, St David’s Shopping Centre
Looking for more information? Check our FAQs
Got questions? Head to our FAQ page for more on:
- How the project works
- Sustainability goals
- Bower App terms and conditions
- How to get involved
Still can’t find what you’re looking for? Get in touch, we’re always happy to help!
Terms and Conditions
This initiative (Cardiff Plovie Cup Recycling Project) shall commence on 22 April 2025 and will operate for a duration of three (3) months, concluding on 22 July 2025, unless otherwise extended in accordance with the provisions herein. The initiative is applicable only within the participating retail locations as listed above.
The financial incentives provided via the Bower mobile app as part of this Project are fully funded by the National Cup Recycling Scheme. Incentive payments are conditional and shall only be issued upon the verified recycling of eligible paper cups at participating stores in accordance with the prescribed recycling procedures.
In the event that the total allocated incentive funds are not exhausted by 22 July 2025, the duration of the Project may, at the sole discretion of the Scheme administrators, be extended beyond this date until such time as the remaining funds have been distributed.
Conversely, should the incentive funds be fully utilised prior to 22 July 2025, the Project may be evaluated for potential continuation up to and including 22 July 2025, subject to available resources and administrative feasibility.
The administrators of the National Cup Recycling Scheme reserve the right to modify, suspend, or terminate the Project at any time without prior notice.
