Can You Recycle Paper Cups? A Complete Guide to Recycling

Paper cups are technically recyclable because they’re made with wood fibres. However, their coating layers are lined with thin plastic polyethylene to keep liquids from leaking. This extra layer can cause difficulty in the recycling process. But modern technology has advanced, and dozens of major paper mills now easily separate the plastic lining from the valuable paper fibres. But here we will learn how to recycle paper cups in detail for homes and industries.

What Are Paper Cups?

Paper cups are made with paperboard and coated with a thin layer of plastic wax and a water based barrier to hold liquids without leaking. They are used for drinking as disposable. Many cafes and restaurants use these cups for serving drinks and cold meltable items. If you are using them in your fast food services, you may be thinking about the recycling process. Now we will move towards the recycling process. But you should be aware of what is use in cups.

Materials Used For Paper Cups 

Paper cups are build with structural base paper and a liquid resistant barrier coating. They do not leak even when holding hot and cold beverages due to their thickness. Here are the materials used in cups.

• Virgin Wood pulp
• Cup Board 
• Kraft paper
• Alternative plant fibres

For the inner barrier coating and waterproofing, the cups are layer with three main coating methods. They are use to prevent water leakage. You can see in the table:

Recycling Process Of Paper Cups

Recycling paper cups is challenging. Because most cups have a thin polyethylene plastic and wax lining to keep them waterproof. Standard paper mills cannot easily process these bonded layers. They require specialized facilities and modern separation technology. Here are some steps that go into the recycling process:

• Collection and sorting of paper cups
• Coating Separation
• Shredding and Pulping
• Material Recovery

Collection and sorting of paper cups

You can collect used cups through dedicated cup recycling schemes or waste collectors. We educate customers to collect coffee paper cups from the cribs for recycling.

Coating Separation

The next step after collecting the empty cups is coating separation. It is possible through the latest ways to detach the plastic and wax lining from paper fibres. Advanced plants use specialized paper-plastic separators to completely isolate the plastic films from the paper fibres.

Shredding and Pulping

You need to shred the collected cups into smaller pieces. Water and heavy mechanical agitation help to break down the paper components into a wet pulp slurry. 

Material Recovery

After completing the shredding process, the next action is the recovery of fibre paper. The paper fibres are recyclable up to 25 times. The separated plastic sheet is also recyclable in the recycling process. So, you can use polymer blends for energy recovery.

These are the simple steps that lead towards the recycling of paper cups. Most of the paper cup makers have recycling gear to reduce the waste. But from the consumer’s side, can paper cups be recycled at home? Let’s take the other way of the recycling process. Want a solution for baking and storage needs? You can go for custom butcher paper. This is use to ensure preservation.

Can I Recycle Paper Cups at Home

If you have a recycling bin at home, you can recycle paper cups at home. But at home, conventional paper cups are not easily recyclable. Because the cups come with a thin wax lining. The plastic layer prevents the paper fibres from breaking down through normal paper recycling processes. So, here is how to handle at home:

• Empty and clean the cup
• Remove the cardboard sleeve
• Put separated cardboard paper into the recycling bin
• Separate the plastic lid 
• Put the plastic lid in the trash
• Use the collected paper for recycling

You can recycle your paper cup by following the above steps. They are easy to follow, and everyone can try at home. Besides this, you can also explore Types of food-wrapping paper that are recyclable. 

Final Thoughts

The paper cups are recyclable, and you can do so at home and in the industry. There are many companies providing recycling services for paper cups. They reduce waste. In this sense, you can follow the advice to put your waste cups in the bins. Waxpaper for restaurants strives hard to provide customized solutions for your coffee brand. However, if you want to recycle papers by yourself, you can see the steps I mentioned above for both homes and industries. Contact us today!