Coffee cups can now be recycled in Calgary's blue carts

The City of Calgary says people can now recycle paper coffee cups and paper drink cups in their blue carts at home, as well as at community recycling depots.

"Residents have been asking us about coffee cup recycling for some time and we're happy that we are now able to divert paper coffee cups from landfills to recycle them instead," said Sharon Howland, with waste andrecycling services, in a news release.

The plastic lids and any liquid left inside still have to be thrown in the garbage.

Even if they have a recycling symbol, the plastic lids are too small to be captured in the city's processing system, said Howland.

Papercoffee cups accepted in the program include the disposable cups Calgarians will find at most coffee shops and chains. Soft drink cups at fast food and food court restaurants are also accepted, the city said.

Here is a list from the city of what can and cannot be put in the blue carts:

Put in your blue cart for recycling(must be empty and clean):

• Paper coffee cups
• Paper sleeves
• Paper soft drink and fountain pop cups
• Paper slushie cups
• Paper frozen yogurt cups

Throw away in the garbage:

• Plastic drink lids
• Plastic dome lids
• Fountain pop/soft drink lids
• Straws
• Liquids/ice
• Spoons
• Stir sticks
• Tea bags (can be composted)
• Foam cups
• Foam sleeves
• Waxed cups

The city says the best alternative though is to take a reusable cup to the coffee shop.

"Using a reusable coffee cup is even better for the environment as it will prevent waste and save energy and resources. It will also keep your coffee much warmer for longer so you can enjoy it that much more,"saidHowland.

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