THE WHAT, WHY & HOW TO OF ON-THE-GO CUP RECYCLING INTRODUCTION Confused about cup recycling? Can you even recycle takeaway cups? It is estimated that a staggering 2.5 billion disposable cups are used in the UK each year. Where do they all go? We’ve compiled this eBook to answer your questions, along with insights into the latest industry developments and the consumer initiatives available to help you take action right now. So, whether you’re a socially conscious coffee lover or a business that’s trying to introduce a cup recycling programme we hope you’ll find something recyclable to take away from us today. Who are we? We’re Glasdon. An established UK manufacturer with our design eye set firmly on helping improve the environment. CONTENTS Use the links below to skip forward. Part 1 : Answers to the BIG Questions • What are Disposable Cups Made from? • Can you Recycle Takeaway Cups? • Overcoming the Challenges Part 2 : Recycling Cups On-the-Go • Choose Your Vessel • Cup Recycling in Action • The Cup Recycling Takeaways (Infographic) Part 3 : Practical Guide to Recycling Cups in the Workplace • Cup Recycling Facts (Infographic) • Step by Step Guide Answers to the BIG questions ? What are disposable takeaway cups made from? There are three main types of disposable cup – paper, plastic and foam. The confusing part for us as n The Traditional n Types of Plastic Cup consumers is that we hear paper Foam Cup and plastic used interchangeably As? well as a takeaway solution, when referring to takeaway cups Made from petroleum, cold drinks tend to be served – we’ll explore why next. polystyrene foam cups are in plastic cups at large public used for hot and cold drinks. events and outdoor venues. And if you’re in the catering Polystyrene makes the cup business, own a coffee shop or sturdy and lightweight while These cups are generally manage facilities… you’ve got providing a high level of manufactured with polystyrene a lot to choose from! insulation. plastic, recyclable PET (polyethylene terephthalate) However, if you’re looking for plastic or recyclable PP an environmentally friendly cup (polypropylene). Compostable solution then you should avoid cold cups made with PLA using these cups altogether. (polylactic acid) corn plastic are Very few recycling plants have also available. the technology to process single-use polystyrene foam cups (including used polystyrene foam food containers) and it is estimated that it takes hundreds of years to decompose in landfill and then it only breaks down into smaller particles. n Types of Paper Cup Sustainable Paper Cups: Paper cups, also referred to Compostable and biodegradable as ‘paper hot cups’ are more cups. The whole cup is commonly used for takeaway produced with natural renewable coffee and hot drinks today. resources. Although they can be used to serve cold drinks too. Wax Coated Paper – Paper Cold Cups: Air Pocket Insulated Cups: For cold takeaway drinks, the Air is trapped for improved wax coated paper cup offers insulation between an inner and extra rigidity and protection from an outer ridged layer. leaks. Poly-coated Paper Cups: Features a polymer coating for additional insulation, while protecting the outside of the cup The Bottom Liner… from weakening. Whether you are using a paper cup for a hot or a cold drink, all Post-consumer Paper Cups: paper cups feature a lining inside them to prevent liquid from leaking through the paper layers, while helping the cup retain its Made using a high percentage rigid form. of recycled paper and therefore using less virgin material. This is where a polymer (plastic) or a wax lining may be used. Common linings include PE (polyethylene) plastic, PLA (polylactic acid) bioplastic and paraffin wax. It’s the cup lining and how they are bonded to the inside of the cup which really makes the difference when it comes to the ease with which takeaway cups can be recycled or disposed of in an environmentally friendly way. So, can you recycle takeaway cups? Yes – the paper hot cups with a PE lining, There has been challenges along the way, but the good news is which are widely used by coffee chains, can be that more waste management recycled. operators, manufacturers, retailers and specialist recycling plants in the UK are now working together, investing in the disposal, collection and reprocessing infrastructure YES needed to offer this facility. Overcoming the Challenges Due to PE lined paper However, following substantial investment from retailers in cups needing to be the form of subsidies to the recycled through UK’s main waste collection a specialist plant companies, the plants with the process (to separate capability to recycle the cups – DS Smith, James Cropper and the paper from the ACE UK, have recently stated lining), the limited that with an improved cup facilities available collection infrastructure, they alone could sustainably manage and lack of collection the recycling of all of the UK’s infrastructure has disposable paper cups. meant that in recent years the recycling market’s own demand for disposable cups has been low. Recycle-friendly Disposal Although made with paper, Therefore, the most efficient So where can we dispose of disposable cups cannot be method of disposal, to give us our cups using this or a similar disposed of in a general paper the best chance of improving method? recycling bin at home, work or the recycling rates of the cups, The disposal and collection anywhere else. is to empty out any cup waste infrastructure for recyclable and (including liquid, apple cores, compostable cups is evolving crisp packets) and then collect This is due to: right now to mirror our on-the-go the cups in a separate container consumption… 1 the PE plastic lining inside the away from other waste streams. cup Buy coffee take on train 2 the waste liquid and residue in This is also the case with used dispose the cup which contaminates 100% compostable paper cups. the other paper Buy coffee take to work dispose 3 the fact that once the cups are co-mingled with other Buy coffee take back with recyclable and non-recyclable me to dispose of when I buy waste streams, they are coffee receive incentive difficult for processors to isolate and are often too damaged to recover Go to Part 2 for more about Recycling Cups On-the-Go. Recycling Cups On-the-Go Our love for the bean However, the report also The EAC has called on the highlighted the need for urgent Government to introduce a was highlighted in a action. Based on the current specific target that would see recent report by the annual usage estimates sitting all single-use cups that are Environmental Audit at around 2.5 billion disposable disposed of in recycling bins, Committee (EAC). cups, the increase in coffee recycled by 2023. shops would equate to an additional 1 billion disposable It detailed how the number cups used per year! of coffee shops in the UK is projected to increase from Due to how we consume drinks 20,000 to 30,000 by 2025. in disposable cups on-the-go, it is estimated that only 1 in every 400 are actually being recycled. So, what can we as consumers do to help the situation? And how are coffee chains and businesses supporting the drive for on-the-go recycling? There are actions you can take today… Choose Your Vessel The choices we all Takeaway Drinks Consumers make are undoubtedly Vendors If you’re not sitting in with your critical to reducing The sourcing of recyclable or drink, look out for takeaway compostable takeaway cups is the sheer volume of vendors who are working hard a top priority for many vendors disposable cups we to consider the environment. and retailers now. send to landfill. Polystyrene plastic and foam Ask questions about the cup you cups are being replaced with According to YouGov are about to receive. Can it be recyclable PP and PET or re-used, recycled or composted? Plc 84% of hot drink compostable PLA plastic cups What do they need you to do to buyers are still using for cold drinks. help? disposable paper cups. While for hot drinks, the favoured replacements are #MySocialSpirit paper hot cups with a PE lining which can be recycled or with a PLA lining which can be commercially composted. Retailers are improving their green credentials further by offering reusable cups. Then what? Refer to Part 3 for our Practical Guide to Cup Recycling. Cup Recycling in Action The latest industry Manufacturers developments and the consumer Re-design of disposable cups Increase use of 100% initiatives available to improve ease of recycling recyclable or compostable materials to you right now. Packaging companies such as Frugalpak are leading the charge in Alternatively, food service the manufacture of recyclable paper packaging manufacturers Vegware cups, specifically designing cups are producing cups made entirely made from recycled cardboard and from plant-based materials which featuring an easy to separate liner. can biodegrade in under 12 weeks in commercial composting facilities. It is suggested that with separate cup disposal and Cup Recycling Bins and Cup collection methods available, Collection Containers these cups could also be recycled in general paper Working in partnership with mills as well as the existing supply chain and waste collection specialist recycling plants. companies, UK bin manufacturers such as Glasdon now offer purposely designed cup bins with individual compartments for liquid waste, plastic lids and collection tubes to collect the disposable cups separately. Supply Chain and Consumer Initiatives Sourcing Cup Stocks Even with an evolving infrastructure, Reusable Rewards Schemes Many coffee chains and smaller in-store return and recycle schemes are The big coffee chains including Costa, independents are sourcing their a simple solution with the miniscule Starbucks, Pret and Café Nero also offer cups more responsibly, which in turn inconvenience of holding on to your cup discounts and other reward cards with reduces the volume of virgin resources for a little longer.