4 ms·

This would be great for coffee chains. Some people think that when you bring you own cup to Starbucks, it'll save a paper cup. This is actually not true. The ba

by esturk 6y ago

This would be great for coffee chains. Some people think that when you bring you own cup to Starbucks, it'll save a paper cup. This is actually not true. The barista has to use pour the coffee to a new cup and then they'll pour in on yours.

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
sfifs 6y ago
Almost all paper nowadays is made from managed forests (ie. Plantations) and paper is perfectly bio-degradable. So I'm not sure why it's a big problem. I use a mug because the 50c off pays off within a month and the mug keeps the coffee warm longer than the paper cup and no, the barista pours my coffee directly into the mug
- adchari 6y ago
  The issue isn’t really the paper (although one can argue that any single use item isn’t ideal), paper coffee cups contain a thin layer of plastic on the inside to prevent leaking, which prevents them from being easily recycled or biodegrading naturally (which also isn’t possible in a landfill). A minority of recycling plants actually has the capability to separate the paper from the plastic, but this is not time or cost efficient and so it’s easier to just throw it out. Also, some places do brew or mix in a paper cup first, some will brew directly into your cup.
  - Steve44 6y ago
    In the UK we have the capability[1][2] to recycle all the traditional PE lined coffee cups we use here. There are also quite a few collection services[3][4]. One of the challenges is separating the waste ready for recycling so having collection points in cafes, offices, and railway stations[5] is a really good start. There are also some new cups with reduce the amount of plastic in a cup so that it's below the 5% contamination level fr general paper recycling. Personally I think this is not a solution as it's just gaming the system buy encouraging contamination of the waste stream. [1] https://www.dssmith.com/recycling/insights/case-studies/case-study-solving-the-coffee-cup-recycling-challenge https://www.dssmith.com/recycling/insights/case-studies/case... [2] https://www.recyclingtoday.com/article/james-cropper-paper-mill-forge-recycling-recycle-coffee-cups/ https://www.recyclingtoday.com/article/james-cropper-paper-m... [3] https://thefirstmile.co.uk/service/coffee-cup-recycling https://thefirstmile.co.uk/service/coffee-cup-recycling [4] https://www.veolia.co.uk/services/coffee-cup-recycling https://www.veolia.co.uk/services/coffee-cup-recycling [5] https://www.networkrail.co.uk/news/network-rail-introduces-coffee-cup-recycling-passengers-encouraged-to-sip-save-and-recycle-to-help-make-stations-greener/ https://www.networkrail.co.uk/news/network-rail-introduces-c...
viraptor 6y ago
Is that a Starbucks / state / US rule? In Australian cafes they make the coffee straight in your reusable cup.
- repiret 6y ago
  It's a Starbucks rules. Most non-chain US coffee shops will happily put the drink straight into your own mug.
nicoburns 6y ago
This is definitely not true for most coffee chains in the UK (I haven't actually been to starbucks recently). I've watched them make the coffee straight into my cup.
jrootabega 6y ago
It would be kinda insane right now for a barista even to handle any customer's cup, let alone put it down on the counters and machines, where it could touch the spouts and pitchers and whatnot. And to be honest, it still makes sense even without a pandemic, even if the stakes aren't as high. E. coli will always be around.

by esturk 6y ago

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

sfifs 6y ago

Almost all paper nowadays is made from managed forests (ie. Plantations) and paper is perfectly bio-degradable. So I'm not sure why it's a big problem. I use a mug because the 50c off pays off within a month and the mug keeps the coffee warm longer than the paper cup and no, the barista pours my coffee directly into the mug

adchari 6y ago
The issue isn’t really the paper (although one can argue that any single use item isn’t ideal), paper coffee cups contain a thin layer of plastic on the inside to prevent leaking, which prevents them from being easily recycled or biodegrading naturally (which also isn’t possible in a landfill). A minority of recycling plants actually has the capability to separate the paper from the plastic, but this is not time or cost efficient and so it’s easier to just throw it out. Also, some places do brew or mix in a paper cup first, some will brew directly into your cup.
- Steve44 6y ago
  In the UK we have the capability[1][2] to recycle all the traditional PE lined coffee cups we use here. There are also quite a few collection services[3][4]. One of the challenges is separating the waste ready for recycling so having collection points in cafes, offices, and railway stations[5] is a really good start. There are also some new cups with reduce the amount of plastic in a cup so that it's below the 5% contamination level fr general paper recycling. Personally I think this is not a solution as it's just gaming the system buy encouraging contamination of the waste stream. [1] https://www.dssmith.com/recycling/insights/case-studies/case-study-solving-the-coffee-cup-recycling-challenge https://www.dssmith.com/recycling/insights/case-studies/case... [2] https://www.recyclingtoday.com/article/james-cropper-paper-mill-forge-recycling-recycle-coffee-cups/ https://www.recyclingtoday.com/article/james-cropper-paper-m... [3] https://thefirstmile.co.uk/service/coffee-cup-recycling https://thefirstmile.co.uk/service/coffee-cup-recycling [4] https://www.veolia.co.uk/services/coffee-cup-recycling https://www.veolia.co.uk/services/coffee-cup-recycling [5] https://www.networkrail.co.uk/news/network-rail-introduces-coffee-cup-recycling-passengers-encouraged-to-sip-save-and-recycle-to-help-make-stations-greener/ https://www.networkrail.co.uk/news/network-rail-introduces-c...

viraptor 6y ago

Is that a Starbucks / state / US rule? In Australian cafes they make the coffee straight in your reusable cup.

repiret 6y ago
It's a Starbucks rules. Most non-chain US coffee shops will happily put the drink straight into your own mug.

nicoburns 6y ago

This is definitely not true for most coffee chains in the UK (I haven't actually been to starbucks recently). I've watched them make the coffee straight into my cup.

jrootabega 6y ago

It would be kinda insane right now for a barista even to handle any customer's cup, let alone put it down on the counters and machines, where it could touch the spouts and pitchers and whatnot. And to be honest, it still makes sense even without a pandemic, even if the stakes aren't as high. E. coli will always be around.