Do used coffee cups belong in the garbage or recycling bin? A lot of people wonder about this, including grown-ups. And unfortunately, it is quite common for people to dump their coffee cups in the wrong places.
The answer to this question may depend on where you live, as each area has different rules for waste. Here in Toronto, we can use the city’s Waste Wizard website to tell us what goes into which bin - blue, green or garbage.
As of July 2024, we can recycle coffee cups in Toronto! Cups for cold drinks can also be put in the blue bin. Make sure they're empty and rinsed, separate them from any lids and sleeves, and don't stack them.
Non-black plastic lids can also be recycled. Some restaurants serve coffee in Styrofoam cups. The good news is that these types of cups are recyclable. However, the most environmental option is reusable cups. Toronto has a bylaw that requires restaurants to accept beverage cups from customers.
So the next time someone in your family heads to Tim Horton’s, you can remind them to bring their own cup from home!