With 65% of Americans drinking coffee every day, asking whether disposable coffee cups are recyclable is just good sense. But as with so many questions surrounding recycling, the answer isn’t as straightforward as it could be because what is and isn’t accepted for recycling varies from community to community.
In short, paper coffee cups are made to be recycled, as they’re crafted from a renewable natural resource. But depending on your local recycling guidelines, you may or may not be able to toss them into your bin.
Why Are Paper Coffee Cups Recyclable in Some Regions and Not Others?
It’s less about the fact that it’s a paper cup and more about what it’s made of. They are lined with a polymer that keeps heat in and prevents the cup from getting soggy. Many paper mills are not yet equipped to separate the polymer from the paper.
But that is changing all the time. There are now more than 40 mills in North America that will accept paper cups. The fiber from those cups is then used to make tissue, paper, containerboard and paperboard, making further use of our natural resources.
The paper industry is always developing new technologies so mills can use more varieties of recycled materials and working with municipalities to collect even more paper cups. The paper and wood products industry has announced or is expected to complete projects by 2025 that will use more than 9 million tons of recycled paper.
Major urban areas that accept paper cups include: Boston, Washington, D.C., New York, Denver, San Francisco and Seattle. Check your local guidelines to figure out whether your community does too.
What can I do if my area doesn’t accept paper cups?
Just do as you would if your community didn’t accept pizza boxes for recycling, contact the staff at your local recycling center to urge them to partner with a mill that accepts paper coffee cups.
Are Coffee Cup Sleeves Recyclable?
Yes, they are, assuming they’re made of paper or cardboard, which most are.
