Did you know that convenient disposable coffee cups are not recyclable, not in the Toronto blue bin program anyway. Apparently the cups are lined with plastic so they should just go to landfills. They also do not accept black lids, other colours are fine. Recycling machines cannot distinguish black plastic from the conveyor belt so it cannot be sorted. And even if it could be sorted, there is no market for black plastic. The paper sleeves are recyclable. There is a cost to the convenience of 'coffee on the go'.
I was guilty of throwing coffee cups into the recycle bin thinking they are made of paper, not knowing that they have plastic liners. Unfortunately, I hardly see people bringing their own mugs.
I was guilty of throwing coffee cups into the recycle bin thinking they are made of paper, not knowing that they have plastic liners. Unfortunately, I hardly see people bringing their own mugs.
18 comments:
A lot of people here take their own 'on the go' mugs. I have only once bought a coffee in a disposable cup. Hugs, Valerie
that is new thing to know dear Christine!
i always try to avoid the disposable cups though they don't have lines but they are not of paper but plastic
It is bad in North America, a real problem.
I'm trying to do a better job of bringing my own cup (or water bottle) into restaurants.
I never buy coffee to go, because it's so expensive. I just make a pot of coffee in my kitchen and David and I drink it in the morning.
Blessings.
Terrible, isn't it? We must do better.
here is A LOT that people think is recallable that isn't. As far as I know, no one recycles those cups, too much money to separate the plastic from the paper. Pringle cans cannot be recycled for the same reason.
I've never bought coffee on the go … or tea for that matter.
I always prefer to either enjoy it at home, at a friends or in a café/restaurant … even a pub!!!
All the best Jan
Where I live, you bring your own bag to the market or you have to buy one. I bet refillable coffee cups are on the horizon.
I did not know about Pringles! But there are a lot of products like these from the big companies that are not accepted.
I save the Earth by not drinking coffee apparently.
Who knew. Good info. Thanks, Christine.
I don't buy coffee to go very often, but sometimes I take my own thermos cup as In and Out will give you free coffee if you bring your own cup!!
haha
I watched a documentary a couple of months ago featuring this very thing. I was shocked.
This is very interesting information. Good to know, thanks for sharing this. I had no idea until I read about it here.
They say the U.S. will have a problem now that China no longer wants to buy our recyclable trash.
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