3oz cups with lids: Can They be Recycled?

　　Did you know that drinking three to five cups of coffee a day can slow down mental decline associated with aging? A recent research study showed that people who drank three to five cups of coffee a day had 75 percent fewer people with dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Many of us get our daily dose of coffee from the local coffee shop. While coffee shops are the place to get your daily caffeine fix, all those 3oz cups with lids can start to cause trouble for the environment. That's because they usually end up in landfills along with a number of other toxic, non-biodegradable materials.

　　3oz cups with lids, whether for coffee or soda, are intended for single use. Unfortunately, despite the fact that we use millions of these handy 3oz cups with lids, there is not much of a recycling program for paper cups anywhere.

　　That's because all 3oz cups with lids have a thin plastic or wax inner layer. It prevents the beverage from soaking through the paper. While this coating is vital to keeping our drinks in - imagine trying to drink hot coffee or a bubbling soda from a rolled-up newspaper,it also ensures they can't be sent to recycling centers.

　　This also makes it very difficult to effectively recycle 3oz cups with lids because the plastic or waxy coating is almost inseparable from the paper. By far the most innovative way to dispose of paper cup waste is through composting, but even that has been limited so far. Fortunately, we can take steps to dispose of paper cups in an environmentally responsible way. The bad news is that in most cases, you'll probably only be able to throw away 3oz cups with lids. There simply aren't many cities or businesses that have recycling programs that will accept them. However, there is still some hope for the accessories that usually accompany paper cups.

　　When you get a hot cup of coffee at a cafe, there is usually a cardboard sleeve wrapped around the cup to help keep your hands cool. This sleeve is easy to recycle, and you can drop it off at any recycling location that accepts corrugated cardboard or at a curbside trash can. Then there's the plastic lid for all take-out 3oz cups with lids. This is just as easy to recycle as the cardboard covers, and they can be thrown away anywhere or in any curbside bin that can handle plastic. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do about straws or stir sticks right now. These will have to be thrown away or even reused by the consumer. However, one thing you can do to help reduce the use of plastic straws is to carry an inexpensive glass or stainless steel straw with you when you go out to eat.

　　While most companies and organizations are not equipped to recycle paper cups themselves, you can still do something about them. If you have a home composting system in your backyard or garden, you can try composting your own paper cups. Paper will always decompose quickly, but if the plastic isn't readily bioavailable, you may eventually have to throw it away. One of the best things you can do with used paper cups and straws is to make arts and crafts with them. If you have kids (or if you have a child's heart), you can find dozens of fun craft instructions online that include reusing paper cups, straws and stir sticks.



　　3oz cups with lids may not be the easiest thing in the world to recycle, but they are still a quick and convenient option for your busy schedule. Thankfully, as the world moves in a more environmentally responsible direction, programs will begin to emerge that can dispose of plastic straws and paper cups. It's only a matter of time before this all happens. Until then, don't feel bad about tossing your 3oz cups with lids in the trash. There are other ways we can help protect and preserve the planet.