Everything you need to know about recycling coffee cups
Coffee Cups includes:
Disposable coffee cups
Single-use coffee cups
Takeaway coffee cup
Liquid paperboard cups
Biodegradable coffee cups
Compostable coffee cups
FIND A RECYCLER
Learn more about recycling coffee cups
How to recycle coffee cups
Disposable coffee cups are tricky items to recycle due to their plastic lining, which is why they are generally not accepted for recycling by waste contractors. Only some commercial recyclers will accept disposable coffee cups for recycling.
Recycling options for businesses and workplaces
• Use the directory on this to page to find a commercial recycling service for coffee cups.
• Simply Cups is a coffee cup recycler that provides businesses and workplaces with recycling stations. Once full, Simply Cups will collect the cups and lids for recycling.
• Schools can apply for a collection unit through Simply Cups for free. Once full, the cups need to be taken to a recycling point at a 7-eleven store. The program is open to primary and secondary schools with a local 7-Eleven in ACT, NSW, Qld, Vic and WA.
Image credit: Simply Cups
Why recycle?
Australians use 1.8 billion single-use, hot beverage cups every year, with many being littered. ?When they are sent to landfill, the cardboard fibre of the cup releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
Recycling coffee cups:
• Prevents harmful greenhouse gases from being released into the atmosphere
• Ensures the materials are used again in new products and applications
What happens to them?
Simply Cups recycles used coffee cups into a new raw material that can be used to make?asphalt, light-weight concrete and low-carbon building materials.
Image credit: Simply Cups
Reusable coffee cups
Recycling is a great way to prevent waste from going to landfill but reducing the number of disposable cups you use will have an even better environmental impact. Australians can reduce their coffee cup waste by using a reusable coffee cup or simply drinking the coffee from crockery.
Workplaces can encourage their staff to use reusable coffee cups by keeping some in the cupboard (these can often be picked up for cheap at charity stores).
Frequently Asked Questions
Are coffee cups recyclable?
Coffee cups cannot be recycled via household recycling bins. However, there are specialised recycling programs for disposable coffee cups with drop-off points located around Australia. Use the directory on this page to find a location near you.
Can plastic coffee cups be recycled?
Plastic takeaway cups used for iced coffee can be recycled via your household recycling bin in most council areas in Australia. Check directly with your council to be sure.
Are takeaway coffee cup lids recyclable?
Coffee cup lids should not be put in your recycling bin at home. They can, however, be recycled by dropping them off at one of the many recycling collection points located around Australia. Use the directory on this page to find a location near you.
Are compostable coffee cups recyclable?
No – compostable coffee cups cannot be recycled via household recycling bins.
Under the right circumstances, these cups can be composted. If you have a compost at home, make sure the cup is certified home compostable to the Australian standard before you put it in your compost. Look for the Home Compostable AS 5810 logo on the cup. If the cup features the Compostable AS 4736 logo, that means the cup can only be composted using industrial equipment and should not be put in your home compost.
If you have a FOGO (Food Organics and Garden Organics) bin, check with your council to see if they accept compostable packaging including compostable coffee cups. If they do, you should still check the cup has either the compostable (industrial) or home compostable logos.
If you do not have access to a compost or composting service, compostable coffee cups should be put in the garbage bin.
Are biodegradable coffee cups recyclable?
No – biodegradable coffee cups cannot be recycled via household recycling bins.
If you have a FOGO (Food Organics and Garden Organics) bin, check with your council to see if they accept biodegradable packaging, like BioCups, in these bins.
Are BioCup and biodegradable coffee cups recyclable?
No – BioCup coffee cups cannot be recycled via household recycling bins.
If you have a FOGO (Food Organics and Garden Organics) bin, check with your council to see if they accept biodegradable packaging, like BioCups, in these bins.
Are iced coffee cups recyclable?
Yes – most councils in Australia accept clear plastic takeaway drink cups in household recycling bins. Visit your council’s page on Recycling Near You for more information on what your council accepts via your recycling bin.
If you’re ever confused about what you can place in your household recycling bin, you can contact your local council for more information.
Are Styrofoam coffee cups recyclable?
No – Styrofoam or polystyrene containers and packaging should never be put in household recycling bins. While polystyrene can technically be recycled, it requires special technology and infrastructure.
How many coffee cups end up in landfill?
It is estimated that Australians use and throw away 2.7 million coffee cups every day! When they are sent to landfill, the cardboard fibre of the cup releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
Recycling disposable coffee cups at designated collection points will ensure the resources used to make the cup and the lid are used again. This prevents the extraction of new resources from the earth and, in turn, reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
