Alexei Volkov
Plastic straws and cups are extremely common, with plastic straws accounting for 99% of the straw market since the 1960s. However, plastic straws are often too small to be detected by conveyor belts at recycling plants, and they are made from polypropylene, which isn't accepted by most domestic recycling schemes. Plastic cups are also rarely recycled, with polystyrene cups (such as Solo cups) not being recycled by most cities. Despite this, there are still ways to dispose of plastic straws and cups properly, such as reusing them, or donating them to organisations that will repurpose the material.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic cups recyclable | Technically recyclable under the right circumstances, but usually not due to the plastic lining |
| Plastic straws recyclable | Not recyclable as they are too lightweight to be sorted at facilities and are banned |
| Plastic cups and straws disposal | Cups must be empty, clean, and dry before recycling. Straws should be placed in the trash |
| Plastic cups and straws environmental impact | Plastic cups contribute to waste and harm marine life. Straws are also harmful to the environment |
| Alternatives to plastic cups and straws | Starbucks introduced a strawless lid in 2018. Metal straws, paper straws, and compostable/marine degradable straws are also alternatives |
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What You'll Learn
- Plastic cups are recyclable but may need to be cleaned and dried first
- Plastic straws are rarely recyclable due to the type of plastic used
- Paper cups are often not recyclable because they are lined with plastic
- Starbucks has been trying to find a greener alternative to its single-use cups
- Plastic cups are sometimes downcycled into lower-quality products
Plastic cups are recyclable but may need to be cleaned and dried first
Plastic cups are recyclable, but they may need to be cleaned and dried first. This is because recycling facilities often find it more trouble than it's worth to separate the plastic lining from the paper in a cup. If they try to recycle paper cups without separating the materials first, the plastic lining can jam their machines. This makes plastic cups effectively non-recyclable at most facilities.
To recycle a plastic cup, it should be empty, clean, and dry. Plastic lids can stay on, but straws and other trash should be removed and placed in the bin. It is important to not nest or stack cups together before recycling. Most plastic placed in recycling bins is downcycled, meaning it is turned into lower-quality products such as fibres for clothing, carpeting, and polyfill for pillows. Only a small percentage is recycled into new bottles and containers.
Some communities can include certain types of plastic cups in recycling, such as to-go, takeout, or fast-food beverage cups. However, it is important to check with your local recycling centre, as not all facilities have the same capabilities. For example, some locations may accept Styrofoam, while others do not.
While plastic straws are usually made from recyclable materials, they are often banned from recycling programs because they are too lightweight to make it through mechanical sorters at facilities. They can slip through cracks and jam the sorters, causing huge problems.
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Plastic straws are rarely recyclable due to the type of plastic used
The recyclability of plastic cups, on the other hand, depends on various factors, including the type of plastic, the recycling infrastructure, and the presence of any additional materials or coatings. Some communities accept certain types of plastic cups, such as to-go or takeout cups, in their recycling programs. However, it is important that these cups are empty, clean, and dry before being placed in recycling bins. Plastic lids can usually be included, but straws should be removed and disposed of in the trash.
It is worth noting that most plastic placed in recycling bins is downcycled, meaning it is turned into lower-quality products rather than being recycled into new bottles or containers. This highlights the importance of reducing single-use plastic consumption to minimise plastic waste in landfills and the environment.
Some companies, such as Starbucks, have recognised the environmental impact of their single-use cups and are working towards more sustainable alternatives. Starbucks, for example, has introduced a strawless lid and is testing greener technologies for cup liners. They are also aiming to double the recycled content in their cups by 2022 and have joined the NextGen Cup Challenge, working with other companies to find solutions.
Overall, while some plastic cups can be recycled under the right circumstances, plastic straws are rarely recyclable due to the specific type of plastic they are made from and their small size, which creates challenges for recycling infrastructure.
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Paper cups are often not recyclable because they are lined with plastic
Plastic cups and straws are technically recyclable, but the reality is that most plastic straws are non-recyclable due to the high cost and low demand for recycled straws. Plastic cups, on the other hand, are recyclable, but only if they are properly disposed of in a recycling bin and if the recycling facility is equipped to process them.
Paper cups, however, are often not recyclable because they are lined with plastic. This plastic lining is necessary to ensure the cup can hold liquids without absorbing them, leaking, or falling apart. The problem with recycling paper cups is that the plastic lining needs to be separated from the paper, which most recycling facilities find too troublesome to undertake. If they attempt to recycle the cups without separating the materials, the plastic lining can jam up their machines. This makes the cups effectively non-recyclable at most facilities, and they usually end up in landfills or the environment, contributing to an annual carbon footprint of over 152,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide in the UK alone.
The plastic lining in paper cups is typically made from polyethylene, a petroleum-based plastic that requires thousands of barrels of oil annually. This lining does not break down easily during standard recycling processes and can contaminate the post-consumer paper material, making the cups impossible to compost. Even when paper cups are composted, the lining can break down into microplastics that may harm marine life or enter the human food chain.
Some communities have access to the infrastructure and technology to recycle paper cups properly, but they are few and far between. Starbucks, for example, has been trying for 30 years to find a greener alternative to its single-use coffee cups and has committed to the NextGen Cup Challenge, working with other companies and investors to crowdsource solutions. One company, Frugalpac, produces a cup made from almost 100% recycled paper and uses a food-grade liner instead of plastic, which is much easier to separate from the paper during recycling. Starbucks also began trialling NextGen compostable cups in 2020, which do not have the usual polyethylene lining.
While there are alternatives to plastic-lined paper cups, the best way to reduce waste is to opt for reusable cups instead of disposable ones.
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Starbucks has been trying to find a greener alternative to its single-use cups
In 2018, Starbucks committed to the NextGen Cup Challenge, teaming up with other food companies and Closed Loop Partners, a recycling-focused investor group, to crowdsource solutions for greener cups from the public. The challenge attracted 480 entries, with contestants ranging from amateurs to industrial design firms submitting proposals for cups made from mushrooms, rice husks, water lily pads, corn leaves, and even artificial spider silk. Twelve winners were announced, including greener cup liners, barriers, and cups themselves, with up to six of the winners set to enter a business accelerator to test the scalability of their solutions.
Starbucks has also introduced strawless lids, redesigned its cold cup lids so they don't require a straw, and offered discounts to customers who bring their own mugs or use "for-here" ware in stores. The company has also been testing more than 12 greener technologies for paper cup liners and is aiming to double the recycled content in its cups by 2022.
Despite these efforts, Starbucks has yet to find a fully recyclable or compostable cup that meets its standards. The company's cups can technically be recycled, but most facilities don't recycle paper cups because they would have to separate the cups' plastic lining from the paper, which many recyclers find to be more trouble than it's worth. As a result, Starbucks' cups often end up in landfills or the environment, contributing to plastic pollution.
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Plastic cups are sometimes downcycled into lower-quality products
Plastic cups and straws are not always recyclable. While plastic cups are more recyclable than paper cups, they are often downcycled into lower-quality products. This means that instead of being recycled into new bottles and containers, they are turned into products such as fibres for clothing, carpeting, polyfill in pillows, and winter coats.
Downcycling is a common practice in the recycling industry, as it is often more cost-effective and easier to process plastic waste into lower-quality products. However, this practice has environmental implications, as it contributes to the production of lower-quality goods that may have shorter lifespans or be less recyclable themselves.
Plastic cups, particularly those used for to-go, takeout, or fast food, can be recycled in some communities. However, it is important to ensure that they are empty, clean, and dry before placing them in the recycling bin. Plastic lids can usually be recycled along with the cups, but straws should be placed in the trash as they are too small to be sorted on conveyor belts and can fall through the cracks, jamming recycling machinery.
While some sources indicate that plastic straws are rarely recyclable, others suggest that they can be recycled in certain areas that accept polypropylene, the material from which straws are typically made. However, even in these areas, straws may still be too small to be effectively sorted and recycled. Additionally, some companies are introducing paper straws as a more environmentally friendly alternative, although these have their own set of challenges, such as the feeling of wet paper when drinking.
The recyclability of plastic cups and straws is a complex issue, and it varies depending on the specific materials used, the capabilities of local recycling facilities, and the policies of different communities. While some efforts are being made to improve the recyclability of these items, such as Starbucks' commitment to the NextGen Cup Challenge, it is important for consumers to reduce their consumption of single-use plastic and dispose of plastic items properly to minimise their environmental impact.
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Frequently asked questions
Most paper, plastic, and metal cups can be recycled in residential programs or at SWACO drop-off locations. However, party cups, such as Solo cups, are not recyclable. These cups are made from polystyrene, or plastic #6, which is not recycled by most cities.
Plastic straws are made from polypropylene, which is technically recyclable, but most domestic recycling schemes do not accept it. Straws are often too small for conveyor belts, so they go undetected in the sorting process. Some recycling centers do accept plastic straws, so it is important to check with your local center.
Plastic cups and straws should be empty and rinsed out before recycling. Lids on plastic cups can be recycled, but lids on paper cups should be discarded in the regular trash. Plastic straws should be put in a recycled plastic bag before being discarded to prevent them from blowing away.
Reusable cups, such as the Red Cup Living cup, are a more eco-friendly alternative to disposable cups. The Ball Aluminum Cup is another reusable option that can be recycled with aluminum cans. Some cups, such as the Red Cup Living cup, even come with built-in reusable straws. Metal straws are another alternative to plastic straws, as they are hard-wearing and can be recycled.
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