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Disposable Coffee Cup Recycling Demystified
Not sure what to do with single-use, to-go cups once you enjoy your coffee? Learn some helpful disposable coffee cup recycling best practices.Byline: BTB Editor
July 9, 2025 / Time to read: 5 minWe love our coffee. In fact,
Ever wonder, are these single-use coffee cups recyclable? If you’re unsure what to do with your to-go cup after enjoying your hot or iced beverage, we’ve broken down the dos and don’ts of coffee cup recycling.
Disposable Coffee Cup Recycling: 101
Globally, we recycle an estimated
But when it comes to plastic cups used for iced coffee, more often than not, both the cup and the lid can be recycled. In many communities, the following plastics
- #1 plastic: polyethylene terephthalate
- #2 plastic: high-density polyethylene
- #5 plastic: polypropylene
If you’re unsure, you can check with your local recycling provider to see which
Coffee Cup Recycling Best Practices
Whether you’re a daily coffee drinker or an occasional sipper, here are some simple guidelines to help you recycle coffee cups responsibly.
Opt for Reusable
While this first point isn’t exactly a recycling tip, it bears mentioning. Whenever possible, choose a reusable coffee cup. Many coffee shops and cafés welcome customers’ reusable mugs and tumblers. Others even offer discounts or rewards when customers bring their own cup. Make sure your
If you have the time, consider enjoying your brew in-store. Many cafés serve coffee in reusable mugs for customers who plan to stay. Every time you BYO cup or use a reusable mug, you help reduce the number of single-use cups entering the waste stream.
Know What You Can Recycle
Only certain parts of a disposable coffee cup — whether you opt for a hot latte or a cold one — are recyclable. In most cases, you can place these items in your curbside recycling bin:
- Plastic hot cup lids
- Most plastic cold cups and lids
- Cardboard sleeves
- Cardboard drink trays
Know What You Can’t Recycle
These items are generally not accepted in curbside recycling:
- Straws
- Plastic-coated paper coffee cups
Polystyrene foam cups
Curious why plastic straws can’t be recycled? They’re too small and flexible to make it through the sorting equipment at a recycling facility. As a general rule of thumb, anything smaller than a credit card should go in the trash, not the recycling bin.
Keep the Coffee Out of the Bin
Before you recycle coffee cups, make sure all items are
Follow Café Guidelines
Some cafés use compostable cups. If you see an in-store compost bin, make sure to toss these cups there. Typically, compostable single-use items are sent to commercial composting facilities where carefully controlled conditions enable proper decomposition. If compostable dishware ends up in the trash or at-home compost bins, it may not break down properly.
Know What to Throw When You Enjoy Coffee To-Go
When you’re on the go and don’t have a reusable mug handy, it’s important to know which parts of your to-go cup can be recycled. Save the graphic below to remember what goes in the trash and what goes in the recycling bin. To learn more about recycling other takeout food and drink containers,
