The City of Calgary announced Tuesday disposable paper coffee cups will now be accepted in blue cart recycling bins.
“Residents have been asking us about coffee cup recycling for some time,” spokesperson Sharon Howland said in a news release. “We’re happy that we are now able to divert paper coffee cups from landfills to recycle them instead.”
The disposable paper cups must be empty and clean with plastic lids removed before recycling.
“Plastic lids may have recycling symbols on them, but that does not mean they are compatible with the Blue Cart program,” Howland said. “The lids are too small and light for the recycling facility to properly sort them. They should be thrown in the garbage along with liquids, stir sticks, and straws.”
Paper sleeves are also accepted, as are soft drink cups used at fast food restaurants.
For more information about coffee cup recycling, you can visit calgary.ca/coffeecup.
YES – Put in your blue cart for recycling (must be empty and clean)
- Paper coffee cups
- Paper sleeves
- Paper soft drink and fountain pop cups
- Paper slushie cups
- Paper frozen yogurt cups
NO – Throw away in the garbage
- Plastic drink lids
- Plastic dome lids
- Fountain pop/soft drink lids
- Straws
- Liquids/ice
- Spoons
- Stir sticks
- Tea bags (can be composted)
- Foam cups
- Foam sleeves
- Waxed cups