ENVIRONMENT Secretary Michael Gove carries a throwaway coffee cup — after revealing his plans to increase recycling.

Mr Gove wants to tackle the growing plastic waste problem by cutting the use of single-use items such as straws and takeaway cups.

4 Michael Gove carried a throwaway coffee into a crunch Cabinet meeting after announcing plans to increase recycling Credit: Reuters

But just a day after outlining his plan he was pictured with a non-recyclable cup from fast food chain Pret A Manger.

Most takeaway coffee cups cannot be easily recycled because of the plastic coatings inside them.

Mr Gove was on his way to a crunch Cabinet meeting in Downing Street yesterday morning.

His four-point plan will make it easier to tell what can be recycled and what can be binned and will also improve councils’ recycling rates.

4 Takeaway coffee cups are non-recyclable due to the plastic coatings many have inside Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

4 The Environment Secretary's four-point plan to increase recycling will make it clearer what can be recycled as well as improving rates for councils Credit: EPA

One of its main objectives is to get all councils to pick up all kinds of everyday plastics for recycling - ending the current postcode lottery.

It came as it emerged the Cabinet minister told a meeting last week he was forced to act after watching the BBC’s captivating Blue Planet series which showed upsetting images of marine life affected by plastic litter.

But figures released recently showed officials at the environment ministry have used at least 2.5million throwaway cups in five years.

A spokesman for Mr Gove declined to comment.

Sue Hayman, Labour’s shadow environment secretary, said: "It’s clear that what Michael Gove says and what Michael Gove does on the environment are two different things."

4 Michael Gove felt compelled to act as Environment Secretary after watching BBC's latest Blue Planet series which showed distressing images of the oceans polluted with plastic Credit: BBC Pictures' Digital Picture