Thoughts - The Problem with Coffee.. Millions of us grab a coffee on our way to work. And when we do, it probably comes served in a branded, disposable, cardboard coffee cup. Once the...

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

Millions of us grab a coffee on our way to work. And when we do, it probably comes served in a branded, disposable, cardboard coffee cup. Once the coffee is done, just pop the cup into a recycling bin and forget about it. The cup will be taken away and turned into a new one for you to use again tomorrow. The system works, right?

There's a hitch. In the UK, we throw away an estimated 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups every year. And despite being recyclable in theory, in practice only very few of them are dealt with in a way that makes them sustainable. This makes them a bit of an obstacle. What throws a spanner in the works is the layer of polyethylene that makes the cup waterproof, and the lid, which is most often made of polystyrene. As a result, most of the cups end up in landfill.

But there are efforts underway to tackle this issue. One company, Biome Bioplastics, has come up with a fully compostable, recyclable cup that uses natural materials, such as potato starch, as waterproofing. Mr Mines, its chief executive, believes that this is the first time bioplastic has been used for disposable cups and lids that have to cope with hot liquid. And they're still fully recyclable.

Another feasible solution has been proposed by Frugalpac, who have patented a cup with a lightly-attached plastic lining. This can be easily separated during the recycling and "offers a more pragmatic solution" than changing our current recycling habits, says Frugalpac's founder Martin Myerscough.

Safia Qureshi says India has provided the inspiration for her solution. She puts forward that we use returnable and reusable cups, which are tracked and collected by her company Cup Club. They will be responsible for collecting, washing and redistributing the clean cups to participating retailers.

One final example of lateral thinking comes from Cupffee. This trio from Bulgaria have combined cereals to form a cup which can be eaten once the drink is finished. It is apparently sweet and crisp, can hold a coffee for up to 40 minutes and will biodegrade within weeks.

Whether any of these innovative ideas are a perfect fit for this disposable issue, only time will tell. It's possible that a more viable solution has yet to be ventured, though it may not be long in coming. All it might require is a little more thinking outside the box… or should that be coffee cup?

JFlorio Loc: Seminole Florida

You could just drink your coffee at home in your own mug like I do.

Canuckus Deploracus wrote:

Millions of us grab a coffee on our way to work. And when we do, it probably comes served in a branded, disposable, cardboard coffee cup. Once the coffee is done, just pop the cup into a recycling bin and forget about it. The cup will be taken away and turned into a new one for you to use again tomorrow. The system works, right?

There's a hitch. In the UK, we throw away an estimated 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups every year. And despite being recyclable in theory, in practice only very few of them are dealt with in a way that makes them sustainable. This makes them a bit of an obstacle. What throws a spanner in the works is the layer of polyethylene that makes the cup waterproof, and the lid, which is most often made of polystyrene. As a result, most of the cups end up in landfill.

But there are efforts underway to tackle this issue. One company, Biome Bioplastics, has come up with a fully compostable, recyclable cup that uses natural materials, such as potato starch, as waterproofing. Mr Mines, its chief executive, believes that this is the first time bioplastic has been used for disposable cups and lids that have to cope with hot liquid. And they're still fully recyclable.

Another feasible solution has been proposed by Frugalpac, who have patented a cup with a lightly-attached plastic lining. This can be easily separated during the recycling and "offers a more pragmatic solution" than changing our current recycling habits, says Frugalpac's founder Martin Myerscough.

Safia Qureshi says India has provided the inspiration for her solution. She puts forward that we use returnable and reusable cups, which are tracked and collected by her company Cup Club. They will be responsible for collecting, washing and redistributing the clean cups to participating retailers.

One final example of lateral thinking comes from Cupffee. This trio from Bulgaria have combined cereals to form a cup which can be eaten once the drink is finished. It is apparently sweet and crisp, can hold a coffee for up to 40 minutes and will biodegrade within weeks.

Whether any of these innovative ideas are a perfect fit for this disposable issue, only time will tell. It's possible that a more viable solution has yet to be ventured, though it may not be long in coming. All it might require is a little more thinking outside the box… or should that be coffee cup?

Millions of us grab a coffee on our way to work. A... (show quote)

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

JFlorio wrote:

You could just drink your coffee at home in your own mug like I do.

Exactly

And on the odd occasion I get it outside, I either drink it in the store, or put it in my go cup...

Except the occasional morning when I get one from McDonald's

bggamers Loc: georgia

Canuckus Deploracus wrote:

Millions of us grab a coffee on our way to work. And when we do, it probably comes served in a branded, disposable, cardboard coffee cup. Once the coffee is done, just pop the cup into a recycling bin and forget about it. The cup will be taken away and turned into a new one for you to use again tomorrow. The system works, right?

There's a hitch. In the UK, we throw away an estimated 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups every year. And despite being recyclable in theory, in practice only very few of them are dealt with in a way that makes them sustainable. This makes them a bit of an obstacle. What throws a spanner in the works is the layer of polyethylene that makes the cup waterproof, and the lid, which is most often made of polystyrene. As a result, most of the cups end up in landfill.

But there are efforts underway to tackle this issue. One company, Biome Bioplastics, has come up with a fully compostable, recyclable cup that uses natural materials, such as potato starch, as waterproofing. Mr Mines, its chief executive, believes that this is the first time bioplastic has been used for disposable cups and lids that have to cope with hot liquid. And they're still fully recyclable.

Another feasible solution has been proposed by Frugalpac, who have patented a cup with a lightly-attached plastic lining. This can be easily separated during the recycling and "offers a more pragmatic solution" than changing our current recycling habits, says Frugalpac's founder Martin Myerscough.

Safia Qureshi says India has provided the inspiration for her solution. She puts forward that we use returnable and reusable cups, which are tracked and collected by her company Cup Club. They will be responsible for collecting, washing and redistributing the clean cups to participating retailers.

One final example of lateral thinking comes from Cupffee. This trio from Bulgaria have combined cereals to form a cup which can be eaten once the drink is finished. It is apparently sweet and crisp, can hold a coffee for up to 40 minutes and will biodegrade within weeks.

Whether any of these innovative ideas are a perfect fit for this disposable issue, only time will tell. It's possible that a more viable solution has yet to be ventured, though it may not be long in coming. All it might require is a little more thinking outside the box… or should that be coffee cup?

Millions of us grab a coffee on our way to work. A... (show quote)

thanks for the update interesting thanks

Michael10

I've got a thermos probably 30 years old and an insulated cup, never stop for coffee. It's much cheeper to make it at home and the filter and coffee grounds compost very well with grass clippings.

vernon

JFlorio wrote:

You could just drink your coffee at home in your own mug like I do.

I don't drink alcohol and I don't smoke but i do drink a 12 cup coffee pot every morning and if its available I'll
drink it all during the day.

JFlorio Loc: Seminole Florida

vernon wrote:

I don't drink alcohol and I don't smoke but i do drink a 12 cup coffee pot every morning and if its available I'll
drink it all during the day.

Damn. I’d never sleep.

Radiance3

Canuckus Deploracus wrote:

Millions of us grab a coffee on our way to work. And when we do, it probably comes served in a branded, disposable, cardboard coffee cup. Once the coffee is done, just pop the cup into a recycling bin and forget about it. The cup will be taken away and turned into a new one for you to use again tomorrow. The system works, right?

There's a hitch. In the UK, we throw away an estimated 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups every year. And despite being recyclable in theory, in practice only very few of them are dealt with in a way that makes them sustainable. This makes them a bit of an obstacle. What throws a spanner in the works is the layer of polyethylene that makes the cup waterproof, and the lid, which is most often made of polystyrene. As a result, most of the cups end up in landfill.

But there are efforts underway to tackle this issue. One company, Biome Bioplastics, has come up with a fully compostable, recyclable cup that uses natural materials, such as potato starch, as waterproofing. Mr Mines, its chief executive, believes that this is the first time bioplastic has been used for disposable cups and lids that have to cope with hot liquid. And they're still fully recyclable.

Another feasible solution has been proposed by Frugalpac, who have patented a cup with a lightly-attached plastic lining. This can be easily separated during the recycling and "offers a more pragmatic solution" than changing our current recycling habits, says Frugalpac's founder Martin Myerscough.

Safia Qureshi says India has provided the inspiration for her solution. She puts forward that we use returnable and reusable cups, which are tracked and collected by her company Cup Club. They will be responsible for collecting, washing and redistributing the clean cups to participating retailers.

One final example of lateral thinking comes from Cupffee. This trio from Bulgaria have combined cereals to form a cup which can be eaten once the drink is finished. It is apparently sweet and crisp, can hold a coffee for up to 40 minutes and will biodegrade within weeks.

Whether any of these innovative ideas are a perfect fit for this disposable issue, only time will tell. It's possible that a more viable solution has yet to be ventured, though it may not be long in coming. All it might require is a little more thinking outside the box… or should that be coffee cup?

Millions of us grab a coffee on our way to work. A... (show quote)

===============
Coffee grinds are very good fertilizer for houseplants, and even for garden tomatoes. I tried that last year, got lots of tomatoes. So beautiful.

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

Radiance3 wrote:

===============
Coffee grinds are very good fertilizer for houseplants, and even for garden tomatoes. I tried that last year, got lots of tomatoes. So beautiful.

That's true.... My aunt does the same thing...

vernon

JFlorio wrote:

Damn. I’d never sleep.

Is that what causes my sleepless nights?

JFlorio Loc: Seminole Florida

vernon wrote:

Is that what causes my sleepless nights?

That’d cause me a sleepless decade.

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

vernon wrote:

Is that what causes my sleepless nights?

My wife drinks coffee in the evening... Sometimes as late as ten...

She sleeps fine...

I have to knock it off before noon or I'm screwed

PaulPisces Loc: San Francisco

Canuckus Deploracus wrote:

Millions of us grab a coffee on our way to work. And when we do, it probably comes served in a branded, disposable, cardboard coffee cup. Once the coffee is done, just pop the cup into a recycling bin and forget about it. The cup will be taken away and turned into a new one for you to use again tomorrow. The system works, right?

There's a hitch. In the UK, we throw away an estimated 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups every year. And despite being recyclable in theory, in practice only very few of them are dealt with in a way that makes them sustainable. This makes them a bit of an obstacle. What throws a spanner in the works is the layer of polyethylene that makes the cup waterproof, and the lid, which is most often made of polystyrene. As a result, most of the cups end up in landfill.

But there are efforts underway to tackle this issue. One company, Biome Bioplastics, has come up with a fully compostable, recyclable cup that uses natural materials, such as potato starch, as waterproofing. Mr Mines, its chief executive, believes that this is the first time bioplastic has been used for disposable cups and lids that have to cope with hot liquid. And they're still fully recyclable.

Another feasible solution has been proposed by Frugalpac, who have patented a cup with a lightly-attached plastic lining. This can be easily separated during the recycling and "offers a more pragmatic solution" than changing our current recycling habits, says Frugalpac's founder Martin Myerscough.

Safia Qureshi says India has provided the inspiration for her solution. She puts forward that we use returnable and reusable cups, which are tracked and collected by her company Cup Club. They will be responsible for collecting, washing and redistributing the clean cups to participating retailers.

One final example of lateral thinking comes from Cupffee. This trio from Bulgaria have combined cereals to form a cup which can be eaten once the drink is finished. It is apparently sweet and crisp, can hold a coffee for up to 40 minutes and will biodegrade within weeks.

Whether any of these innovative ideas are a perfect fit for this disposable issue, only time will tell. It's possible that a more viable solution has yet to be ventured, though it may not be long in coming. All it might require is a little more thinking outside the box… or should that be coffee cup?

Millions of us grab a coffee on our way to work. A... (show quote)

The reality is, even if you pop for the expensive coffees like Starbucks or Peet's, it's better for everyone involved to buy one of their ceramic cups and have them refill that.

We're required to separate compost from other waste here in SF (and as a resident we can go pick up two 5-gallon containers of compost, I think annually) but not all paper go-cups are compostable, though Starbucks is piloting a program.

These seem like little things, but when one realizes the scale if we all participate, we make a better world for those that come after us.

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

PaulPisces wrote:

The reality is, even if you pop for the expensive ... (show quote)

Well said Paul...

I hate disposable anything

JFlorio Loc: Seminole Florida

Canuckus Deploracus wrote:

Well said Paul...

I hate disposable anything

Hate plastics. Don’t know how we replace them though.