News, Why Starbucks won't recycle your paper coffee cup. (reusable, buying, eco friendly)
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I'd say the problem is less with the paper cup than the plastic lid which goes on top of it.
No, the lids are easily sorted out in processing. If you read the article, the problem is with the plastic lining in the paper cup, which means it cannot be directly recycled with regular paper. It takes a special kind of processing which simply isn't available everywhere.
The title of this article, which I couldn't read either until Dakster posted an alternative due to the Chicago Tribune's aggressive paywall, is deceptive. I think it would be more accurate to title the story: Why Starbucks Can't Recycle Your Coffee Cup, which gets at the real meat of the story... that they can't find vendors in 61% of their locations who are willing to recycle this category of waste. But let us not overlook the fact that in 39% of their locations, where they can find the service, they do contract for the service and they do pay for it.
The cynical view that this situation proves recycling is "all about money" is wrong minded. Businesses don't typically choose to recycle their waste with an eye to making money from it. Yes, of course the cartage and recycling companies themselves need to make a profit, that's just basic business. But what this article reveals is that even companies that are willing to pay for environmentally responsible waste removal may not be able to find anyone in their area to provide the service.
I'm personally familiar with a number of restaurants and grocery stores which direct their trash into separate waste streams and pay for them each to be picked up and disposed of appropriately. I recently saw an interview on TV with the chef/owner of a "healthy" restaurant, who showed the segregated bins throughout the establishment, and separate containers out back for each. And she discussed how she felt the additional cost of handling their waste in an environmentally sound manner is just an "of course" way of doing business in a way that is consistent with their entire philosophy.
But unlike many other business owners, she has the choice available to her. Not everyone does.
Starbucks used to give you a good discount for bringing in your own cup. Now the discount is a measly $0.10. It's not even worth the cost of water for me to wash my personal one and bring it in.
Who washes their cups.... just adds to the flavor...
Starbucks used to give you a good discount for bringing in your own cup. Now the discount is a measly $0.10. It's not even worth the cost of water for me to wash my personal one and bring it in.
Wouldn't do it for the money. None of my recycling efforts are for the money.
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