BYOC (Bring Your Own Cups)

Thats right, Bring your own cups! A very unnecessary and large portion of our garbage includes disposable coffee and drink cups. After the holidays we’re all getting back into the groove of things which often means for most people going to that coffee shop drive through before work and picking up your coffee, tea, etc. in those darn disposable cups.

Though a few companies have claimed over the years to have made them more easily recyclable this is just not the case for the most part– often these paper cups come with hidden plastic linings on the inside making it impossible to recycle as well as the toppers for the cups are often unrecyclable– so even if the cups do wind up in the recycling they are often diverted to landfills. CBC marketplace did an interesting experiment to see exactly where the cups from certain chains that claim to be recycling really end up, all of which wound up in the garbage along with many other recyclable products.

So what can we do to help? BYOC, bring your own cup– whether it be a drink cup for smoothies/cold drinks or a thermos, mug, or coffee cup for coffee/tea, it’s just that simple. Most places will gladly oblige and fill those cups for you, and if they don’t there’s always the option to speak to management about it or vote with your dollars and go to one of the many other places in town that would love to have your business. If you are insecure  about bringing your own cup or just wanting to go even further another great often healthier and cheaper option is to simply just make your own coffee/tea/smoothies/etc. at home.