We all know that recycling is important, but what about composting? While composting may not seem like an important step in recycling, it can be very beneficial. This blog post will explore the benefits of composting cold drink cups and why you should consider doing so.
What are compostable cold drink cups made of?
Cold drink cups are made from various materials, including paper and plastic. Some cold drink cups are compostable, while others are not.
Compostable cold drink cups are made from materials that can be broken down into plant-based matter by bacteria. These cups can then be put into anaerobic digestion or composting to create organic fertilizer.
Some cold drink cups are not compostable because they are made of plastics that cannot be broken down into plant-based matter. These cups must be disposed of in the trash bin instead of recycled.
What are the benefits of compostable cold drink cups?
Compostable cold drink cups are made from plants, not petroleum. They’re biodegradable and offer the same protection that polystyrene cups do.
The benefits of compostable cold drink cups include the following:
Lower environmental impact. cold drink cups are made from plants, not petroleum. When you throw them away in your curbside recycling bin or compost pile, they’ll decompose naturally into soil nutrients within 180 days. This is much better for the environment than making new products out of oil, coal and other mined resources, which often require large amounts of energy to extract and process.
Reduced energy use. Composting is a natural process that doesn’t require any additional energy to break down waste — unlike recycling, which requires high-temperature incinerators that burn fossil fuels to heat plastics into small pieces , so they can be processed easily by machinery at sorting facilities.
Fewer greenhouse gas emissions. The amount of greenhouse gases emitted through manufacturing processes is much lower when using plant-based materials instead of petrochemicals and fossil fuels . Especially since most paper cups are made from recycled materials and require less processing than virgin pulp products, such as newsprint or magazines (which have only a small fraction of their original strength when they are recycled).
How can cold drink cups be recycled?
There are many different ways that cold drink cups can be recycled.
The United States has a growing trend towards using compostable cold drink cups. These cups are made from renewable sources like corn and wheat and break down naturally over time. When you place these cups in your compost pile, they will decompose in about 90 days.
Composting is a great way to reduce landfill waste. But it’s not the only way to recycle your cold drink cups. If you don’t have access to a compost pile or don’t want to use it, you can put your cold drink cups in your curbside recycling bin instead. This option is available in most areas across the country . And it allows you to send your plastic materials off to be recycled into more plastic products.
Another option is to take your used cold drink cups back to the store . Where you purchased them so they can be recycled into new products without ever making their way into the landfill or incinerator.
How do you recycle compostable cold drink cups?
There are a few steps you can take to ensure the cold drink cups you use are recycled properly.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Ensure the cup is labelled ‘compostable’ or ‘biodegradable.’ Look for the numbers 1, 2 or 5 in the recycling symbol on the bottom of the cup (see below). These numbers indicate that the plastic in the cup will break down in a commercial composting facility. This is important because many curbside recycling programs don’t accept flexible plastics like those used for cold drink cups.
2. Empty your cold drink into another container before placing it in your curbside bin or drop-off centre, so it doesn’t get contaminated with other materials. Some municipalities have separate bins for recycling compostable plastics, so check with your local waste collection agency if you’re not sure where it goes.
3. Contamination can ruin entire bales of compost if they contain too much plastic, so be sure to clean up yourself when disposing of coffee cups and other items made from biodegradable materials.”
Conclusion
It can be difficult to recycle cold drink cups. But they can be recycled if they are made of compostable material. Check the label of your cold drink cup to see if it is compostable, and then put it in the recycling bin.
