Comments on: Starbucks Pilots Coffee Cup Recycling Program

By: Michael winn

Michael winn — Mon, 02 May 2011 17:56:46 +0000

i so agree we should recycle any plastic we can
also i don’t understand you guys

By: Doug

Doug — Mon, 02 May 2011 06:05:22 +0000

Mr. Grean Jeans.. You stand corrected.. you have it backwards.. the bi-material PAPER is not recyclable.. but the PLASTIC cup IS!

Thomas- you are exactly right.. the PLASTIC cups.. yes, even a NICE LOOKING (can accept decoration and logo print better than recycled fiber), INSULATING (yes. again.. paper fails… styrofoam™..available in many unique forms.. does NOT have to look like the sterile white bland look of a bulk styrofoam™ stack of boy scout-issue coffee cups in a clear plastic sleeve and insulates 8 times better than even laminated paper cups!), INEXPENSIVE (yes, again.. cardboard/paper cups fail… EPS – styrofoam™ – unlike some plastics – can be recycled an infinite number of times. they are not effected by what is referred to as ‘heat history’- estimates are that with a storefront recycle system – see http://www.greenfreakrecycling.com – can reduce the price of a cup from the current $.04 paper to $.001 EPS x 3,000,000,000 cups per year = $117,000,000 savings per year!)… AND be 100% recycled. …….
but it gets better…. the guys at Greenfreakrecycling.com have perfected a process to reprocess the styrofoam™ and actually produce the reusable coffee mugs from the actual recycled styrofoam™!!!!
THESE GUYS ARE BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!

why downgrade the material into a ‘pizza box’…. which may never be recycled… when you can UPCYCLE it into a $4.00 reusable mug???
Why hasn’t Starbucks knocked on the door of these guys???? they have operations already in operation in California and I think Arizona too…

reusing paper is a good idea, sure… but a 100% reusable, recycleable plastic container allows for in-store recycling and unlimited remanufacture…. PROBLEM SOLVED!!!! STARBUCKS… IF YOU ARE LISTENING…. CONTACT GREENFREAKRECYCLING TODAY>……. .

By: Myriam Metzler

Myriam Metzler — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 05:45:45 +0000

I believe that Starbucks has saved my life quite several times, and I am aware of the BIG benefits of recycling when we talk about facts and figures. I think that earth deserves a break, when it comes about us returning to it all that good it has offered. As a member of Rotary International, I am truly fond of taking care of and even pampering some place that gives me so much to do, to think about and to enjoy…
Those of us who have ecological conscience, that think of ‘keeping the poop in the scoop’, can understand the satisfaction it brings to know that you are being responsible citizen of the world!

By: beachcat

beachcat — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 19:52:11 +0000

I save my McDonald coffee, have about 200 of them, will bring my own cup in the future and send these back to the corporate office.

By: Jen

Jen — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:21:27 +0000

I recently found a paper Starbucks cup that I had put into one of my worm bins. The worms had eaten the paper, and all that was left was a sizable plastic sheath. I was alarmed. It’s interesting to read that they have found a way to recycle them.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:12:03 +0000

Why not make the cups and lids made totally from plastic. As opposed to trying to recycle a coffee cup which is half paper and plastic away. By making it out of totally plastic, then the whole product can be recycled back into another coffee cup. The original making of the plastic cup is the same if not worse for the environment then the paper, but the paper cup can only be used once but the plastic can be recycled continuosly if they are recycled together (based on the same chemical composition) into another coffee cup, continuing the lifecycle of the plastic cup. We are after a closed system!

By: The Verde Bag

The Verde Bag — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:39:00 +0000

I brought in my own travel mug at Starbucks and the barista used a paper cup to measure the amount of a tall size, poured it into my mug, then tossed the paper cup into the garbage. Oh, and I didn’t get my whopping 10 cent discount either.
The best and cost-effective way to reduce coffee cups in the landfill is to make your own coffee.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:21:06 +0000

I went to Starbucks with my reusable mug today. I told each person I dealt with that I was using a reusable mug, the guy who took my order online, the cashier and the barista. Each of them, with varying degrees of snarkiness said that they understand the concept of a “reusable mug.” The cashier even gave me my 10 cent cup discount on my $6 coffee. After waiting patiently for my coffee, I was watching the barista with my mug thinking, he’ll start making my coffee soon, when the other barista gave me my coffee in a big paper cup.

When I asked her why they didn’t use my reusable cup, after I asked repeatedly, she looked at me like I had three heads.

They can make you a doubleshot/extradry/triplewhip/halfcaf/fullfoam/halffat/triplepump/soy/cappuchino but can’t figure out how to use a reusable mug.

The program is ridiculous. People walk down the street and throw their cups in the garbage and won’t save them and walk them back into a Starbucks to recycle. And even if recycled, where do you think the pizza boxes end up?

Why not just give those of us who use reusable mugs a dollar discount? Affect consumer choices with financial incentives not some pie in the sky post-consumer initiative that makes no logical sense.

Starbucks FAIL

By: Mr. Green Jeans

Mr. Green Jeans — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:11:11 +0000

It would really be best for Starbucks to lose the plastic lining in the cups. Plastic is not renewable and the time has come to eliminate it from single use disposable food packaging.

By: Theresa

Theresa — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 03:19:19 +0000

Starbucks could sell reusable mugs and encourage their customers to use them by getting a discount on their drink when using the mug. That’s the way to go. The company could have a recycling program in place, recycling should begin with the source, the company that uses them to sell their product.