Reusable and Single-Use Cup Recycling Pilot

For more information about this pilot program, please visit return-it.ca/cups

How does it work?

For single-use cups, consumers empty out any liquids into one slot, and place the cups and lids into separate slots.

For reusable cups, consumers scan a QR code on the cup and then place it into a slot marked for reusables.

What items are accepted in the bins?

Single-use: All disposable single-use cups and their lids and sleeves, for both cold or hot beverages, including multi-laminate cups, plastic-lined paper cups and plastic single-use cups are accepted.

Reusable cups: All reusable cups are accepted; however, if the program/brand is not registered to use these bins, the customer will not be able to connect to the individual program for that cup and therefore will not have the deposit or fee credited back to them. As of today, Tim Hortons and ShareWares are the only two participating brands.

How can I know what brands are registered when returning my reusable cup?

When a customer scans the QR code to begin the return process, all participating brands will be listed on the website.

Why do coffee cups need a separate recycling stream?

Hot beverage cups can be challenging to recycle because they come in a number of different material streams and have a polyethylene coating on the inside to keep liquids from soaking through the paper. These attributes require special processes for separating the paper fibres so they can be used to make new products. Also, lids, sleeves are recyclable and there are markets for these materials when sorted separately but there are other potential contaminants like stir sticks, tea bags and napkins which are generally disposed of with the cup and need to be removed before the cups can be recycled.

What are you trying to learn from this program?

We are looking to learn and identify a recycling solution for coffee cups consumed in the commercial and public sectors. The program will look at collection, public education and participation levels, learnings, finding recycling end markets for disposable coffee cup collection, and testing the marketability of the different material streams.

How can you guarantee the coffee cups collected will actually be recycled?

Coffee cups collected in this program will be recycled. The aim of this program is to work with other recycling partners outside of BC to test viable recycling solutions at a scalable level for our national partners.

What products can coffee cups be recycled into?

Most residential programs in North America that collect coffee cups market these items to be used in the production of tissues or toilet paper. The program will identify higher use recycling options for a clean stream of materials that is not blended with other packaging.

Will this initiative really make a difference?

With millions of coffee cups being disposed of in the City of Vancouver alone, there is a clear need to act now. This program is a first step to making a quantifiable difference over the long term.