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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.

Comments21 - 30 of 752

That is so stupid about not turning the taps off because of germs!!! Um everyone in the world is getting by pretty well with them off! They take the piss!!! Another american company wasting things and screwing our world up!!!

From scott.mar on Mon Oct 06 12:32PM
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Time for everyone to boycotte Starbucks worldwide. Also for the water companies to impliment a huge fine for wanton waste of water. Health and safety my a***.

From kenneth.bailey10 on Mon Oct 06 12:32PM
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yup

From liamo_1987 on Mon Oct 06 12:32PM
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Why do we need their grossly overpriced @#$% coffee anyway??
Chris F

From chrisfuller480 on Mon Oct 06 12:32PM
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Perhaps they wouldn't be quite so wasteful if they were fined at the same price that they charge for bottled water. That might focus their attention somewhat! I always think it's criminal when I see taps running like that in pubs, but for it to be company policy is outrageous!

From gary_malloy on Mon Oct 06 12:32PM
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I just hope all environmentally concerned customers of this company will now vote with their feet and wallets!!

From wotasillyboy on Mon Oct 06 12:33PM
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Well the sign is green...thats about it! lol

From cannibalizer86 on Mon Oct 06 12:33PM
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This is absolutely bizarre! My family will not be using Starbucks again.

From melissalumley on Mon Oct 06 12:34PM
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Next it'll be how much water they use to wash the mugs up!! at least there's a reason for them doing it - lets look at all the water wasted with un-checked burst pipe leaks from the water companies!!!!!!!

From craigsarah.greensall on Mon Oct 06 12:34PM
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I am appalled at Starbucks lacksadaisical attitude. Wasting water in this way is absolutely wrong and to say it is because of germs is crazy, if that is the case don't you think doctors would have told everyone in the country about this. If they want to continue doing this, why don't they contribute to charities that are trying to bring water to places like Namibia and offset their water consumption in the same way as we try to offset our carbon footprint.

From elaineminter on Mon Oct 06 12:34PM
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