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Starbucks 'wasting 23 million litres of water a day'

Mon Oct 06 10:06AM

Starbucks has today been accused of wasting more than 23 million litres of water every day.

The coffee chain, which prides itself on being green, has a health and safety policy of leaving taps running in all of its 10,000 branches worldwide it has been revealed today.

The company policy prohibits staff from turning off a cold tap behind the counter called a 'dipper well'.

This means that Starbucks is wasting roughly 23.4 million litres of water on a daily basis. That's enough water to quench the thirst of the entire population of drought-stricken Namibia.

In Britain where there are just fewer than 700 branches of the coffee shop, 1.6 million litres are wasted every day.

Starbucks bosses claim that the flow of water stops germs from festering in the taps.

Peter Robinson of environmental charity Waste Water told The Sun: "Leaving taps running all day is a shocking waste of precious water. And to claim you are doing it for health and safety reasons is bonkers."

You can read the full exclusive story from The Sun by clicking here.

Comments11 - 20 of 752

Starsux

From marc_oc on Mon Oct 06 12:30PM
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i would love to know what "health & safety" issues prevent staff turning off taps...rsi perhaps

From vintagemorris on Mon Oct 06 12:30PM
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@#$% more like.
There are no germs in english water, cleaniest water in the world.
They should be fined for that. and use the money to buy water for poor nations

From kill1towarna100 on Mon Oct 06 12:30PM
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Why do we need their grossly overpriced @#$% coffee anyway??

From chrisfuller480 on Mon Oct 06 12:31PM
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We don't have a water shortage in the UK, if it was during a drought period it would be unacceptable

From craig_billinghan on Mon Oct 06 12:31PM
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Absolutely crazy, I don't leave my taps running all day and they don't seem to make me ill? I hope they pay for it.

From dream1974uk on Mon Oct 06 12:31PM
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I hope Starbucks is on a water metre and paying for all this waste...and I hope there will be a penalty charge for this waste!

From raul9yuste on Mon Oct 06 12:32PM
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Have they considered using using sensor operated taps? Hypocrates!

From lioneldsouza on Mon Oct 06 12:32PM
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Get real! Starbucks pays for all that water. What about the millions of litres Thames Waters wastes that WE foot the bill for!

From dunctm on Mon Oct 06 12:32PM
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And who is footing the bill for their water expenditure?? The customer of course! I am currently living in Finland and I did wonder why there are no Starbucks here. Say NO to Starbucks!!!

From sonicsusan on Mon Oct 06 12:32PM
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