Millthorpe Providore trader Patricia McKenna has foregone the revered loyalty card for all but the environmentally aware customer and she wants other cafes to follow suit.

The popular coffee spot began only stamping the cards of customers who bring their own reusable cups three weeks ago.

Mrs McKenna said she's already seen a significant reduction in throw-away cups, particularly with her regulars.

"I think they're more mindful of bringing their reusable cups in," she said.

The Victoria Street cafe has taken a number of measures to reduce its carbon footprint, including introducing compostable cutlery, paper straws and degradable bin liners.

Mrs McKenna said she had felt conflict between her responsibility to the environment and her position at the cafe.

"I feel ill thinking that I have so much landfill going out from my business each day," she said.

"I thought 'why should I give you a free coffee for contributing to landfill?'

"So I'm trying to take measures to reduce it as best I can."

Millthorpe Providore offers 20c off to customers who bring in reusable cups and for every ninth coffees they get a free one.

She said she's given away around 60 loyalty cards in the three weeks since introducing the policy, which accounts for many of her regulars.

"I tell them 'bring it in, I'll wash it, I don't mind!," she said.

It's estimated Australians use 1 billion disposable coffee cups each year which is approximately 2,700,000 paper coffee cups thrown out every day. As disposable coffee cups can no longer be recycled, all of these will go directly to landfill.

Millthorpe Providore is part of a growing number of local cafes which are committed to reducing their environmental footprint.

As one of 4736 listed Responsible Cafes in Australia, Factory Espresso, Byng Street Local Store, Nile Street Cafe, Hillside Harvest, 2 Fat Ladies Cafe, Thorns Coffee, Bissys Permaculture Cafe, Scrumptious on Summer Cafe and Groundstone Cafe all offer a discount to customers who use a reusable cup.