Coffee Cups - A to Z of recycling

Disposable coffee cups cannot be recycled and should be placed in your grey/black kerbside rubbish bin.

Compostable coffee cups are not accepted in the green wheeled garden waste bin as the machinery used in the composting process cannot identify them as compostable, causing contamination and the possibility of the load being rejected.

Compostable cups can be used for seed planting, however, non-compostable cups are best avoided for this use as they are layered with plastic which will degrade, leaving microplastics in the soil.

You could try adding compostable cups to a standard home compost bin but they may take a while to break down. Compost bins that accept food waste, such as the Green Johanna or HotBin, may have better results as they compost at a hotter temperature. Your feedback is welcomed if you do give this a go.

Where possible, try and take your own re-useable cup to the coffee shop.