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Coffee Cups Are Next

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Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#31

Post by joecool1029 »

jacobolus wrote: post #9
DoreenMichele wrote: post #8

First they came for plastic bags. Then they came for straws. Coffee cups are next. Straws are a hot button topic in disabled circles.

What’s wrong with paper (or biodegradable plastic) straws, besides costing an extra penny or whatever?

The problem is paper straws already suck on their own and disintegrate quickly in a regular cup. It's worse when you use a PLA (biodegradable/compostable) plastic cup with a paper straw. This is because PLA is usually much stiffer than PET or PS lids so you end up with the lid pinching off the straw in its death grip.

I asked a disabled person with cerebral palsy about what he thought of paper straws. His answer: "I don't see the point in having a paper straw if the cup is already plastic"

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#32

Post by mattigames »

umeshunni wrote: post #25

Maybe Berkeley should spend this energy in fixing its homelessness, crime and housing issues rather than pointless environmental virtue signaling.

Maybe you don't know but people around the world like to point to SF as examples of places that prohibited plastic bottles, maybe for locals the real issues are the ones you mention but in the big picture to stop using one-time plastics and similar pollutants are the real issues.

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#34

Post by SapporoChris »

I was in Seoul last month. The McDonalds there had plastic coffee mugs and there was a bin for the mugs where the trays are returned and trash is disposed. Of course, normal disposable cup was available for to go orders.

The major issue is cost of course. Disposable cups are a cheap solution. As long as they remain cheap and there are not other compelling reasons, few companies are going to be making any changes.

I've heard this time and again here. It's worth reiterating, put the cost of the pollution on the manufacturer, then changes will occur.

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#35

Post by WheelsAtLarge »

kohtatsu wrote: post #3
chriselles wrote: post #2

I have to admit that while our family is as conscientious as we can be with plastic use and recycling, I have a weak spot for coffee cups/lids. When visiting the US recently I found the recycled paper lids quite distasteful, in the literal sense. For me, kicking the coffee cup/lid will be a bit harder than other forms of sustainability.

How about a reusable cup? $0.10 off at Starbucks.

This is my preference. My coffee cup keeps my drink hot way longer than any disposable one can and I would save a dime. Win, win, from my view.

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#36

Post by HeWhoLurksLate »

chrisseaton wrote: post #6
dontbenebby wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

OTOH it seems like less coffee shops offer mugs for in-house drinking nowadays. Takeaway is harder but there's no reason not to use mugs if you're staying in the store.

In the UK there is a chain called Costa where the in-house mug only comes in one size, and it's a thimble - much smaller than the larger take-away cup. So you end up asking for a take-away cup even though you're staying in and they have mugs available.

So you're saying the replacement has to be good or people won't use it? That's preposterous!

/s

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#37

Post by Dylan16807 »

corodra wrote: post #21
Mediterraneo10 wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In order to remain impermeable during exposure to liquid, wouldn’t a paper straw have to have some kind of coating? If that coating is plastic, then it would be no solution to the problem for which plastic straws have been criticized: microplastic pollution in the environment. If the coating is wax, the Wikipedia article for wax paper[0] suggests that there are often environmental issues. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org…

Floridan here. All coastal bars/restaurants must have paper straws. Generally, they're single drink use. You might get a second glass worth if you drink fast. I don't really notice a wax on them. If they happen to have any.... they might as well not bother. I'm a born/raised Floridian, so I grew up on all the propaganda about ocean life getting tortured by soda rings, straws and other garbage. One of my transplant fr…

What's the chance of it getting to the ocean when I'm properly throwing it away?

Also they apparently all use photo-degradable plastic since 30 years ago.

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#38

Post by frankbreetz »

dsfyu404ed wrote: post #27

So why can't we spend all this money we're wasting debating what plastic stuff to ban figuring out how to recycle these things instead? (or down-cycle, plastic contaminated paper pulp from cups seems like a natural fit for filter media)

Recycling doesn't work. I recently read that only 10 % of plastic gets recycled. Recycling is just a way to pass responsibility onto the customer. Bans and regulations require the corporations to fix this problem.
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