Coffee Cup Recycling

Yes, used coffee cups can be recycled, but only through specialist recycling systems and services, such as Recorra’s coffee cup recycling solution. Most disposable coffee cups are made from paper fused with a thin plastic lining, which means they can’t be processed in standard paper mills. They are also challenging to separate from dry mixed recycling streams and will usually be classed as contamination. Dedicated coffee cup recycling services use processes that separate the materials so the paper fibres and plastic lining can be effectively recovered.

Most disposable coffee cups cannot be recycled through regular Dry Mixed Recycling because they are difficult to separate from other materials, leading to contamination. Recorra’s Coffee Cup Recycling, however, allows these cups to be recycled properly. If a dedicated coffee cup recycling service isn’t available, used coffee cups should be disposed of as General Waste.

Yes, you should rinse coffee cups before recycling them. Rinsing removes leftover coffee, milk, or sugar, which helps prevent contamination of the recycling stream and ensures the paper and plastic can be processed properly.

Yes, you should remove the lid from your coffee cup before recycling. Most lids are made from a different type of plastic than the cup and separating them ensures both materials can be processed correctly. For best results, remove the lid, rinse the cup, and place in our coffee cup lid Circular Box.

Compostable coffee cups should not be placed in Recorra’s Mixed Recycling or Coffee Cup Recycling, as their bioplastic linings will contaminate the recycling stream and recycling process. If the coffee cup is certified for industrial composting (e.g. EN 13432), it can be placed within your Compostable Packaging service.