How can I reuse or recycle wax-lined paper cups?
We’ve had an email from Brennan:
After a quick search on Recycle This, I noticed nothing popped up for paper-wax cups that are popular at fast food restaurants or 7-11 stores.
I was wondering if you had any recommendations on how to recycle or reuse these cups since local curb side programs refuse to collect them due to the wax lining inside.
Yes, we’ve covered plastic cups, sippy cups and even cardboard cup sleeves but not those oh so common waxed paper cups – it’s funny the things I forget about sometimes :)
There is, of course, a big argument for avoiding getting them in the first place but sometimes it’s pretty much unavoidable – so what can be done with them?
I know regular waxed paper can be used to lubricate things around the home, lightly protect wooden surfaces and help prevent rust/grime on garden tools etc – I wonder if the wax coating on cups is waxy/transferable enough for that… Anyone know?
You can save them and use them to urinate in. I can confirm that urine eats these cups more rapidly than just ordinary natural degrading in a landfill. This could in-turn save on water costs for the “anti-if it’s yellow, let it mellow,” folks. Especially in those areas suffering from drought, you can be green after all…
These can be recycled along with the tetra-pak drinks cartons where facilities exist.
save them and sell them to some company or some instituation.
Waxed paper cups can be safely composted. All starchy/wax products compost better in large volume compost production, but if you shred a few and add to your home compost, they will become humus. Remember, the smaller the product added to the compost, the faster it composts.
Depending on where you live, there may be a retailer that composts on a large scale. Whole Foods Market, for example, in many locations have compost bins for customers to use.
I’m not sure why, but I’m picturing these cups each with a hole in the bottom, hanging from a string. Why? Ghetto Mickey D’s windchimes? Perhaps birdfeeders?
The local primary (age 4-11) school near us has a tree full of bird feeders made from a fast food chain’s little coleslaw/sauce cups.