Are Starbucks cups paper and or plastic recyclable?

Starbucks cups are made from a combination of paper and plastic. The paper cup is coated with a thin layer of plastic, which helps to keep the liquid inside the cup. This plastic coating makes the cup difficult to recycle, as it cannot be separated from the paper.

As a result, Starbucks cups are not recyclable in most recycling programs. However, Starbucks has a partnership with TerraCycle, a company that recycles hard-to-recycle materials. Customers can bring their used Starbucks cups to participating TerraCycle collection points, and TerraCycle will recycle them into new products.

Here are some additional details about Starbucks cups and recycling:

  • The plastic coating on Starbucks cups is made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET). PET is a recyclable plastic, but it is not always accepted in curbside recycling programs.
  • Starbucks cups are also lined with a thin layer of wax. This wax helps to keep the liquid inside the cup, but it also makes the cup more difficult to recycle.
  • Starbucks is working on developing more sustainable cups. In 2020, Starbucks introduced a new cup that is made from 95% plant-based materials.
  • Are Starbucks cups recyclable in all recycling programs? No, Starbucks cups are only recyclable in recycling programs that accept PET plastic.
  • Can Starbucks cups be recycled if they have coffee grounds in them? No, Starbucks cups cannot be recycled if they have coffee grounds in them. Coffee grounds can contaminate the recycling process.
  • What is TerraCycle? TerraCycle is a company that recycles hard-to-recycle materials. Starbucks has a partnership with TerraCycle to recycle Starbucks cups.
  • Is Starbucks working on developing more sustainable cups? Yes, Starbucks is working on developing more sustainable cups. In 2020, Starbucks introduced a new cup that is made from 95% plant-based materials.
  • When will Starbucks cups be fully recyclable? Starbucks has not yet announced a timeline for when Starbucks cups will be fully recyclable.
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