Frequently
Asked Questions
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Paper cups such as coffee cups, smoothie cups, gelato cups and take-away soft drink cups are made with paper but are lined with plastic to waterproof the inside of the cup.
These cups are widely used, yet cannot be recycled in traditional recycling. This includes your home, office or general public recycling bins.
We have limited data on the impact of paper cups globally, but we know that more than 1 billion coffee cups are sent to landfill each year in Australia.
Simply Cups was created to end this landfill impact and to save cups from landfill!
Regular recycling bins (such as your home, office or public recycling bins) are collected by material recovery facilities (MRFs). Paper cups have a plastic lining to keep the inside of the cup waterproof.
Most MRFs do not have the technology to recycle paper cups, as it requires removing the paper from the plastic lining. Therefore, most MRFs will dispose of the cup.
That is one of the reasons Simply Cups was created. Simply Cups provides a dedicated paper cup recycling program and collects cups from workplaces, schools, shopping centres and events - where they are used the most. Simply Cups have access to technologies that can upcycle these paper cups and give them a second life. See our Upcycled products here.
Not always. Compostable cups are made from a range of plant-based products and are marketed as more sustainable as they can 'break down'.
However, this is not the case. This is because of two reasons:
Most compostable cups are not composted appropriately. Compostable cups need to be either composted at home (in a worm farm, or traditional composting) or in a commercial facility (with large composting machines that accept compostable products). Compostable cups that are added to landfill produce methane and will not compost.
Compostable cups, when composted, create a compost that feeds the ground, but it is not always seen as a high value product.
Recycled paper cups are a higher value product as they create products that replace virgin materials, for example recycled coffee cups are used to create a reusable coffee cup which will reduce the overall number of paper cups entering circulation. Another example is saveBOARD, a sustainable building material, paper cups used in this product replace plastics that would be required in a building material and therefore reduces the demand for plastics.
Takeaway cups contain a polyethylene (plastic) lining to prevent the liquids from seeping through the paper. While it’s a great thought to just have cups made from 100% paper, the cups wouldn’t be suitable for holding liquid. ​ There are some cups on the market that are made with a plant-based oil or lining. Unfortunately these cups are not recyclable in traditional recycling, however can be recycled through Simply Cups.
Avoiding takeaway cups in the first place is the best option, whether this be through a reusable cup or sitting down in a cafe and drinking from a mug, and we encourage and promote these choices over takeaway cups.
Advocating for the ban of takeaway cups requires worldwide behaviour change. While reusable cups are growing in popularity, many Australians are still using takeaway cups and we want to provide a sustainable solution that saves cups from landfill.
Simply Cups is Australia's Largest Cup Recycling Program, providing designated collections for businesses, schools, venues and events to save cups going to landfill.
Simply Cups collects cups from our Cup Collectors and upcycles them into a range of products including lightweight concrete, reusable drink trays, garden edging, roads and more! See our Upcycled Products here.
Together, we are saving MILLIONS of cups going to landfill and giving them a second life.
Simply Cups accept all paper cups. We accept all brands and sizes of any paper or compostable cup.
The cups don't have to be clean, but we do ask that any liquid is tipped out prior to cups being placed in the collection tubes.
See here for "What can you recycle" poster.
We do not accept plastic cups, cans, food or liquids, plastic bags or wrappers, other paper waste such as newspapers or brochures.
Yes. We want to help establish a circular economy here in Australia and cups collected through Simply Cups Australia will be processed and upcycled in Australia.
There is an exception, small amounts may go overseas for manufacturing testing. If testing is proven to be successful, long-term manufacturing will be established in Australia or New Zealand.
Our Cup Collection units have a lids tube to collect lids. However, these lids are not recycled with Simply Cups (except from 7-Eleven stores).
Lids collected in your Cup Collection unit will be recycled with your chosen recycling facility (if accepted).
Cups are processed and shredded which can be combined with other plastic materials to create a product suitable to upcycle into new products such as lightweight concrete slabs, garden beds and car stops all which are made locally in Australia.
Cups are processed and shredded which can be combined with other plastic materials to create a product suitable to upcycle into new products such as lightweight concrete slabs, garden beds and car stops all which are made locally in Australia.
Choosing the right Cup Collection unit will depend on how many cups you will be collecting and saving from landfill. See here for a Cup Collection comparison.
Yes. There is a min. order of 12 units per collection unit type. Custom units are charged at $750.00+GST per collection unit type.
For example, if you would like 4 x Triple Tubes and 8 x Double Tubes, you will not be eligible for custom units. If you would like 12 x Triple Tubes and 2 x Double Units, you will be charged $1500.00 + GST, as you have two collection unit types that require custom artwork.
This depends on how your location has their waste managed. Most of the time, cleaners empty the Cup Collection unit and add new sleeves. It is an easy process, however we provide training on how this is done so everyone and anyone can empty the Cup Collection unit.
Our Cup Collection units have a lids tube to collect lids. However, these lids are not recycled with Simply Cups (except from 7-Eleven stores).
Lids collected in your Cup Collection unit will be recycled with your chosen recycling facility (if accepted).
Once we pick up your collected cups (on your scheduled collection dates), we take them to our processing facilities. Cups are processed and then made into sustainable recycled materials such as roads, lightweight concrete products and sustainable building material.
As a Cup Collector, you pay for:
Collection unit(s) and delivery
Collection frequency - invoiced monthly
As a Cup Collector, you will also receive:
Training for Collection unit(s) management
Bin stickers for BOH bins
Collection unit sleeves
Free cancellations and pauses
Monthly reports with cup collection stats
Marketing support
Access to Media Kit to promote your sustainability journey
Ongoing account management and support
As a Cup Collector, Simply Cups do not provide:
240L bins