Clean Up Your Coffee: Part 1

Each year, Australians dispose of an estimated 1.84 billion single-use coffee cups, primarily for takeaway coffee! Although many have switched to “paper cups”, most still contain a polyethylene lining. This plastic lining makes recycling these cups very difficult as the materials need to be separated. As a result, most cups that are disposed of end up in landfill. While the paper part eventually breaks down, the plastic lingers and can be picked up by wind and rain, often entering waterways and eventually becoming microplastic pollution. So far this year, microplastic is the most common item found in a Seabin tech in Sydney Harbour. The issue is not just the coffee cups themselves but also the lids. Most cafes across the greater Sydney region use plastic lids, which contributes to microplastic pollution.

Here are some simple things we can collectively do to improve the situation:

Reducing Coffee Cup Waste: What You Can Do

1. Use a reusable cup: Bringing your own cup is one of the most effective ways to reduce coffee cup waste. Some cafés offer discounts for this.

2. Skip the lid: If you forget your reusable cup, at least skip the plastic lid to cut down on waste.

3. Proper disposal: Always ensure cups and lids go in the proper bins, not left on the side, to reduce accidental littering. Most councils do not recycle/compost coffee cups, although you might be surprised if you check directly with your council!

4. Dine in: When possible, sit down and enjoy your coffee at your local cafe. They will usually serve you your drink in a reusable cup or mug, which does lend itself to a better taste too.

Want more? Check out our Blog post about recycling here or all our blog posts here.

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