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.

material
Coffee Cups - Disposable Liquid Paperboard

Find a recycler

How to recycle coffee cups at work

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.

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.

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).

Find more tips for reducing coffee cup waste on the NSW EPA’s fact sheet.