Where should coffee cups be disposed of?

Disposable cups – why are they a problem?

Most so-called paper coffee cups are coated with polyethylene (PE) or PET, which makes them moisture resistant. Unfortunately, this combination of paper and plastic makes such cups unsuitable for recycling under standard conditions. As a result, they do not end up in the paper bin, but in mixed waste.

How to sort correctly?

• PE/PET-coated cups – dispose of them in the yellow bin.
• Plastic lids – separate them from the cup and put them in the plastics bin.
• Wooden stirrers – place in the bio or mixed waste bin, depending on the label.

It is also worth paying attention to the special markings on packaging, which indicate whether a product contains plastic.

Want to buy new cups? Check out our range of printed PET cups

Eco-friendly and compostable cups

Biodegradable cups are becoming increasingly common on the market – e.g. with a PLA (corn-based bioplastic) coating or a water-resin barrier. If they are certified as compostable, they can be disposed of as biowaste. However, it is important to remember that even bioplastics are not a perfect solution – they can take a long time to decompose and produce microplastics.

The best solution

Waste sorting is important, but an even better choice is to reduce single-use products. More and more cafés accept reusable cups – this option is in line with the zero waste philosophy and is beneficial for the environment and our health.

To sum up: disposable cups usually go in the mixed waste bin, lids in the plastic bin, and the best choice is your own reusable cup. It's a small step for us, but a big one for the planet.