One of Europe's largest plastic consumers is taking a big step towards cutting down on plastic use. 

After implementing a charge scheme on single-use plastic bags, Greece is now placing a tax on single-use plastic cups and lids. 

The new law was introduced last month by the government in an attempt to reduce plastic pollution and meet its EU goal.

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Many plastic coffee cups are made largely of paper and lined with plastic polyethylene, which makes it difficult to recycle. As a result, they end up either on a beach or in the sea. 

That's why the Greek government decided to impose a charge on them, hoping it will reduce their use. But coffee shop owners say the lack of communication has left them the unpleasant task of explaining the new tax to customers.

"We've been informing our customers about the new law," said coffee shop owner Apostolos Tsatsiras. "Most of them are OK with it, but there are some that aren't happy with it. 

"I think the government didn't put in much effort of informing the general public about the law. Everything happened really fast, in less than a month. Just a month ago people were buying their coffee at a certain price and now they have to pay 10 or even 20 cents more. I don't think it was necessary."

Since the beginning of the year, customers have to pay five cents each for plastic cups and the same for lids. The move is in line with the European Union goal of reducing single-use plastic products by 80 percent by 2025.

Approximately 17 billion plastic cups and lids are consumed in the EU every year, of which 400 million are in Greece – more than a million a day.

Coffee cups cause serious problems for the environment, mainly in the seas and oceans.

"Everywhere more than 11,500 tons of plastic waste end up in Greek seas," said Achilleas Plitharas, environmental awareness officer at WWF Greece. "We're not talking about the waste from other countries, we're talking about the number of plastic waste that comes specifically as a result of the actions taken here in Greece.

"11,500 tons is an enormous amount of waste, it's like we are dropping over one million plastic bottles and cups in our seas and oceans every single day. And the worst part is that we don't realize the negative impact it has."

Greece is among EU member states taking a lead on the issue, along with Austria, France, and Italy – all of whom have already implemented full bans or have taken steps to tax single-use plastic products. 

Since last July a voluntary charge for using plastic bags has reduced numbers, but the country's environment ministry says more needs to be done.

As businesses and their customers adapt to the new law, the government is hoping it will encourage them to switch to recyclable or reusable cups – and do their bit to help make the world a better place.