Environmental advocacy group Beyond Plastics reported that Starbucks' claims regarding the recyclability of its plastic cups are misleading. An investigation revealed that most of the single-use plastic cold beverage cups placed in recycling bins at Starbucks locations ended up in landfills or incinerators.
The Vermont-based nonprofit tracked 69 Bluetooth-enabled devices placed inside Starbucks recycling bins. Of the 47 bins that provided data, 23 cups were found in landfills, and 11 were sent to incinerators. Ten cups were detected at waste transfer stations, while three reached material recovery facilities, but none were confirmed to be recycled. Judith Enck, president of Beyond Plastics and a former regional administrator for the US Environmental Protection Agency, expressed concern over the lack of transparency regarding the disposal of these cups.
A Starbucks spokesperson contested the study's methodology, stating that the use of electronic trackers does not accurately reflect recycling processes. The spokesperson emphasized that Starbucks cups are designed to be recyclable and have received a 'widely accepted for recycling' designation from How2Recycle.
In response to the findings, environmentalists are planning nine demonstrations across New York, urging Starbucks to address what they describe as misleading claims. Protesters are also advocating for the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act, which would require companies to reduce plastic packaging and reimburse municipalities for waste management.
Starbucks has committed to making 100% of its customer packaging reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2030. In 2024, the company began allowing customers to bring their own reusable cups for mobile and drive-through orders. In February, Starbucks announced a partnership with WM, the largest waste hauler in the US, to promote the recyclability of its cold beverage cups made from polypropylene.
However, the investigation indicated that some cups ended up in landfills as far away as Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Alabama, costing New York City nearly half a billion dollars annually in waste exporting. Susan Keefe, Southern California director for Beyond Plastics, estimated that Starbucks uses approximately 8 million plastic cups daily.
Keefe criticized Starbucks for labeling trash bins in stores with terms like 'landfill,' 'recycling,' and 'compost,' suggesting that this practice is misleading. Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol has been focusing on improving customer service and store environments, but Keefe noted that few customers were observed using reusable mugs during her visits to various locations.
Beyond Plastics is calling for Starbucks to revise its recycling policies, remove misleading visuals from stores, switch to fiber-based cups, and enforce the use of ceramic mugs. Starbucks acknowledged the challenges of recycling on its website, noting that contamination can render entire recycling bins unrecyclable and that different recyclers have varying acceptance criteria.