Why Can’t You Recycle Paper Coffee Cups?

Did you notice that the per cups are now coming with bad wraps? This is mainly because they are designed for single-use only. This is because we produce around half a trillion pounds of garbage every year, primarily from paper cups. It is because of higher requirements that most of these cups are made in a way that they can only be used once. 

Items made from paper material can be easily recycled. But here is the question that is most likely to be asked by many people is  Why can’t paper coffee cups be recycled? The simple answer is that they are not reusable due to the material used in manufacturing. A small layer of plastic is added to the outer surface of them, making it difficult to decompose. 

This film prevents coffee cups from being soggy and makes them a suitable option for the beverage industry. In recycling companies, the machinery used for retraining is designed to process only standard paper products. It is one of the reasons why people tend to avoid paper cups for recycling. 

Main Reasons Why Most Coffee Cups Can’t Be Reused 

Custom hot paper cups are mainly made out of 90 to 95% paper material. There is a very small portion of some extra chemical plastic lining, and some other contaminants added to it. The addition of this plastic layer is the main thing that makes this paper cup non-recyclable. To understand the reason for paper cups’ non-renewable nature, the following are some major points that explain this.  

Plastic lining

Most of the single wall paper cups are coated with a thin plastic sheet. This film is wrapped on the surface of the paper to make it leakproof. During the process of recycling, paper material is soaked in water to break the fibers. The plastic sheet that is coated on the surface of paper cups is strongly coated with the paper, making it impossible to break the fiber. The removal of this coat required special equipment that is very rare to be available.  

Contamination from liquids

The remaining liquids in the paper cups can contaminate a large amount of clean paper. Even a small amount of leftover materials can affect a whole batch of recyclable material. This is why these cups are mostly avoided for recycling. 

Lack of Specialized Facilities

Many people mostly ask if we can recycle paper coffee cups. Well, it is almost impossible to separate this plastic film from a paper cup. But there are some special firms and businesses that use advanced machinery and techniques to ensure the removal of this plastic coat, although there is machinery available, but in very small quantities and very rarely, which makes it very difficult to reuse.  

Environmental impact of paper cups

Although there are many reasons why we should avoid using paper cups, the following are some major points that explain why we should reduce the use of paper cups. What harm are they causing to the atmosphere? 

Water and Energy: A large amount of power is consumed during the process of manufacturing paper from wood. The pulping and coating process of paper also wastes water.

Greenhouse Gas Issues: The production and transportation process of creating a single paper cup emits a large amount of carbon dioxide. This causes an increase in the greenhouse effect.  

Resource Reduction: A large number of trees have been cut to obtain paper for producing paper products like custom cups. This results in a rapid decrease in the natural resources and is also harmful to wildlife. 

Increase in Land Waste: Yearly, about trillions of waste material is produced only from paper cups, impacting the environment. This is because these paper cups can not be recycled. 

What you can do

Although you cannot reduce the overall impact of paper cups on the environment, there are some points that you can follow to avoid the pollution that they can cause. Below are some points that a Prestoncan can follow to avoid paper cup pollution. 

Look for special collection points:  The best method is to check your local recycling guidelines before disposing of these coffee mugs. Starbucks and many other businesses have some special built-in points for these cups. 

Check for Special Labels or Designated Bins: There are some special labels attached to custom paper coffee cups indicating that they can’t be decomposed or disposed of in a recyclable bin. 

Sustainable Packaging: Many coffee shops and brands are using renewable packaging. You can choose them as your service provider to reduce your waste material. 

Utilize a reusable cup: The best way to avoid coffee cup pollution is to use reusable mugs. Reusable can help you not only reduce your waste but also be cost-effective. Many coffee shops offer special discounts to people who bring their own coffee mugs. 

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For more details, visit our website today and explore a more detailed overview of disposable paper coffee cups. This and many other topics that are disturbing the environment are discussed briefly on Waxpapers. Know expert reviews and professionals’ opinions on different kind of packaging and their impact on the environment.