Cup-conscious initiative spreads from Tas

An appeal to sympathetic coffee drinkers to shun disposable cups is gaining global momentum after its start in Hobart.

The cupconsciouscafe.com website guides users to nearby cafes that support customers bringing reusable cups, and chief executive Peg Putt of environment group Markets for Change says the initiative is expanding to the US and UK.

"Billions of throwaway cups are used every year, then dumped, which is a pointless waste of resources. Paper cups in particular use more than 30 million trees," she said, adding most of the cups were not recyclable.