Paper & Card
Disposable coffee cups
coffee cups, paper cups, takeaway cups, disposable cups, takeaway coffee cups
Can you recycle?
Rarely
Rarely — the plastic lining means most coffee cups can't go in curbside recycling. Use store cup-collection points; otherwise general waste.
How to prepare
1. Empty out any liquid and let the cup drain. 2. Keep cups out of your curbside recycling — the lining isn't accepted. 3. Drop them in a dedicated coffee-cup collection point at cafés or supermarkets. 4. Recycle the cardboard sleeve separately with paper.
Common mistakes
Putting lined cups in curbside paper recycling, where the plastic lining contaminates the batch. Leaving liquid in the cup. Assuming the plastic lid is the same as the cup — recycle lids with plastics.
What happens after you recycle it?
At specialist plants, coffee cups are pulped to recover their paper fibers for new products, and the plastic lining is separated out.
Drop-off guidance
A growing number of cafés, chains, and supermarkets have dedicated coffee-cup collection points that send cups to specialist recyclers able to separate the paper and plastic lining.
FAQs
Can I recycle disposable coffee cups?
Rarely in curbside recycling — the plastic lining gets in the way. Use store cup-collection points, where they're sent to specialist recyclers.
Where can I recycle disposable coffee cups near me?
Use the lookup above to find café and supermarket cup-collection points near you.
Is it free to recycle disposable coffee cups?
Yes. Store cup-collection points are free to use.
Can I get paid to recycle disposable coffee cups?
No, but many cafés give a discount when you bring a reusable cup instead.
