Plastics Reduction

Choose to refuse disposable coffee cups!

In Canada, an estimated 1.5 billion disposable coffee cups are used yearly.  

Disposable coffee cups are extremely difficult to recycle. Although the outside is made of paper, the inside of the cup is lined with plastic (polyethylene or polylactic acid) to make it waterproof. 

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Photo: Chelsea Rochman, U of T trash team

Since disposable coffee cups cannot be recycled, they accumulate in the landfill or end up as litter in the environment.  

The outer paper layer will decompose over time, but the inner plastic layer and plastic lid will remain for generations to come.  

Plastic pollution is detrimental to environmental health. The plastic lining used in disposable coffee cups contains chemicals that have proven toxic to aquatic bugs (Almroth et al. 2023). 

Disposable coffee cups even leach microplastics and chemicals into the beverage you consume. A study filled paper cups with hot water and found that 25,000 microplastic particles had leached into the beverage in just 15 minutes (Ranjan et al. 2021).  

The Huskee Mug Exchange Program

When you visit Calico Coffee House, order your drink in a Huskee Cup. Keep your mug until the next time you order a drink (tomorrow, next week, or next Friday!), when you can return your mug and get your next drink in a cleaned mug. The cycle continues without any cups being thrown away!  

All you need to do is: 

1. Buy. Start your membership with a $20 one-time mug fee. Purchase your cup here!
2. Drop. Return your mug when you order a drink.  
3. Swap! Receive your drink in a cleaned Huskee Cup.  

Are you a business looking to join the program? Email erin@ecosuperior.org for more information! 

Help reduce plastic waste in our community by hosting your own clean up!

EcoSuperior will provide everything you need: garbage and recycling bags, reusable gloves, cigarette butt cans, high visibility vests, and even trash pickers to make your work easier!  

Contact rethinkingwaste@ecosuperior.org to get started!