An estimated 7 million Starbucks coffee cups are sold daily. But is it true that all of them are destined for the trash? Or will they be given a new life? Keep reading to see if Starbucks paper and plastic cups are recyclable!
In this article:
Can You Recycle Starbucks Cups?
Theoretically, we can recycle Starbucks cups, but many of them end up in landfills. The recycling process is more complicated than we think. This is because Starbucks cups are made of both paper and plastic. There’s a thin plastic film (known as the polyethylene lining) covering the paper cup to prevent water absorption.
Thus, we can’t recycle those single-use coffee cups as we treat other paper products. When they arrive at recycling facilities, that thin plastic coat must be removed before being processed.
Still, many plants consider this step time-consuming, so recycling Starbucks cups isn’t really a practical deed. The good news is that some facilities in San Francisco, Seattle, Washington D.C., New York City, and Wisconsin do recycle those cups.
So, How To Dispose Of Them Correctly?
To ensure Starbucks cups go to a recycling center instead of ending up somewhere in a landfill, proper disposal is necessary.
Since these cups will be processed with other products, it’s best to remove all the lingering coffee. You don’t need to rinse them, though. Then, put the lid back on the single-use cup to make sure no contaminants can get inside. Remove plastic straws and stoppers, if any (they should go to trash bins instead). Now, you can throw them in recycling bins, and they will be transported to recycling plants.
Are Starbucks Cups Compostable?
At the time of this writing, most Starbucks cups are NOT compostable. As mentioned, those cups are not made of 100% paper. It’s extremely difficult for the polyethylene lining to degrade naturally in the environment.
According to Applied Biological Chemistry, this type of plastic only shows little degradation after being buried in moist soil for 12 to 32 years. Basically, unless you peel off the plastic film, Starbucks cups will remain intact for a long time if left in the environment.
So, why did we say “most Starbucks cups” in the beginning?
Here’s the good news: Since early 2025, the giant coffeehouse chain has piloted its compostable cold cups in selected stores across 14 U.S. states. These cups, including the lids, are made of 100% compostable materials with fiber-based paper and bioplastic liner. This demonstrates Starbucks’ commitment to sustainability.
Can We Reuse Starbucks Cups?
Of course, Starbucks cups are reusable! While being made of polypropylene hinders their compostability, this plastic lining allows us to reuse the cups up to 120 times (according to Fast Company).
This plastic layer is waterproof, protecting the paper layer inside. When finishing the coffee, just wash the cups clean, and they’ll make a great coffee cup or a regular cup.
In 2023, 12 coffee shops in Napa and Petaluma tested a new reusable model. It let customers put their cups in a QR-code-enabled return bin and got a gift card in return. Those cups were washed and sanitized before being delivered to other stores for reuse.
This program has now spread to over 30 markets, encouraging more consumers to reuse Starbucks cups and save more plastic waste from landfills.
Starbucks’ Attempts Towards A More Sustainable Cup
Starbucks is one of the pioneers in promoting sustainability in the food and beverage industry. The coffeehouse chain has gone a long way from its regular paper coffee cups to 100% compostable ones. Here are some of their noteworthy efforts:
- Starbucks launched the industry-leading paper cups with 10% post-consumer recycled fiber in 2016. This enhances their recyclability and reduces the demand for virgin paper.
- They introduced for-here cups, including coffee mugs and glass, for customers who want to sit at stores. This cuts down the number of paper plastic cups used daily.
- Starbucks was the first coffeehouse chain to accept personal cups. When customers come to stores in Canada or the U.S., they can bring their own cups, like reusable tumblers, travel mugs, or thermos. This policy applies to not only in-store but also online and drive-thru orders, which helps eliminate about 2 million paper cups each month.
- Certain stores at over 30 markets worldwide are testing reusable cups. As mentioned, customers can give back their cups for gift cards. Those cups will be cleaned, sanitized, and reused at other stores.
- Recently, Starbucks has introduced compostable cups and lids made of fiber-based paper and bioplastic lining. This change significantly shortens the degradation time of those cups, easing the burden on the environment.
- Some Canada-based stores are piloting more sustainable cups that comprise 30% post-consumer recycled material and 10-20% less plastic.
- Other attempts include paper or compostable straws, strawless lids, and lid stickers (to get rid of lid stoppers).
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