The coffee cup collection conundrum - and what to do to encourage cup-keeping
The Problem: People litter hot beverage cups and lids and spoil a lot of landscapes FACT: Not biodegradable FACT: Can be recycled into useful products in some jurisdictions FACT: The fastest growing littered item in a big city like Toronto FACT: Fits well in a litter bag or bin, small and lightweight enough to keep with you while traveling. FACT: Most places provide a bin for waste.
A solution: Coffee cup collecting
A suggestion: Hold your beverage cup as carefully when consuming from it as when disposing. Use a bin.
Like these snazzy outfitters from Busch Systems. North American made, designed with waste separation in mind, the Coffee Cup Collector captures cups, lids and stir sticks, each in a separate stream, so that they can be recycled by the coffee company. These companies should band together to do more to reclaim their used cups. Contests, redemption offers, advertising, promotion. Stack, rack, bring 'em all back.