An estimated 1.84 billion single-use cups are used by Australians every year.
Although they look like they’re made of paper, disposable coffee cups are usually lined with plastic – which unfortunately means they are not recyclable via most local council kerbside collection programs.
Coffee and other hot beverage cups are a massive contributor to litter and landfill worldwide. In the Litter Report FY24, coffee cups are the ninth most collected litter item. Clean Up volunteers are often shocked to find out that coffee cups are not just made of paper, but are also plastic lined. Their slow decomposition can release microplastics and pollutants into the environment.
Single-use coffee cups are currently accepted for recycling in only a handful of council collections. Thanks to the thin plastic lining that makes them waterproof, most coffee cups can’t be efficiently processed in paper recycling mills, so the majority are incinerated or sent to landfill. When people erroneously place the coffee cups into their recycling bins, it can contaminate the higher value plastic that can be recycled; often meaning the whole load must go to landfill.
According to BioPak, up to 90% of single use hot beverage cups end up in landfill – equating to around 60,000 kg of plastic per annum.
Together we can help reduce the number of single use coffee cups that are handed out at cafes across Australia. Check out the top actions you can take today!
Spoil yourself by investing in a reusable cup that reflects your unique style. It’s best to get a cup that seals and is easy to carry and wash. There are loads of options available, including recycled plastic, bamboo, crockery, metal and glass. Carry it with you.
As if you need an incentive for using a BYO Cup, but responsible cafes’ customers receive a discount when they ‘choose to reuse’. If your favourite cafe isn’t a member, you should encourage them to join the network.
Scan, swap, drink, return. Huskee Cup is a FREE reusable café cup system for eco-focused cafes and coffee lovers across Australia. Cafes love it, coffee drinkers dig it and the planet high fives you for it.
Disposable coffee cups are currently accepted for recycling in only a handful of council collections. That said, there are options for responsible recycling such as via Simply Cups. Using the free Recycle Mate app will help you find which of the 700 drop off locations across Australia is closest to you.
If you’re not in a hurry, sit down and enjoy your drink in-store. Relax, take a breather, and enjoy the moment.
If you have literally no option other than to accept a single-use cup, be sure to refuse a lid.
If you see a stray disposable cup on a seat, or dropped on the kerb – please don’t just walk past it – pick it up and bin it.
Did you know: you can create a Clean Up event any day of the year. Learn more and sign up today.
