No, standard McDonald's paper cups in Australia are generally not recyclable in kerbside bins due to their plastic lining, so they usually go in general waste, but lids might be recyclable (check locally) and some locations offer specialized cup recycling programs like Simply Cups for diversion. McDonald's is working on sustainable packaging, introducing wood fibre alternatives and aiming for 100% renewable/recycled guest packaging by 2025.
🥤Coffee cups and lids, and plastic straws: you can put the lids into your yellow lid recycling bin, but the cups must go into your general waste bin (along with the plastic straws) - unless you are collecting them for us!
Examples of new material that customers can recycle include paper and plastic beverage cups from fast-food restaurants (Starbucks, McDonalds, etc.), plastic souvenir cups and Ball brand aluminum cups.
Although they look like they're made of paper, disposable coffee cups are usually lined with plastic – which unfortunately means they are not recyclable via most local council kerbside collection programs.
Please do not put the following items in your blue lid bin as they cannot be recycled: food or drink cartons. plastics (including bags), glass or foil. foam cups, or used paper cups, plates and straws.
Many items seem recyclable but aren't, including soft plastics (chip bags, bread bags), soiled paper/cardboard (greasy pizza boxes, paper towels, tissues), small items (bottle caps, straws), ceramics/Pyrex, batteries, Styrofoam, nappies, and some mixed-material containers (coffee cups with plastic lining), as these contaminate loads or jam machinery, requiring special disposal.
Recycle - Clothing banks
Because even the holiest underwear will be sorted and separated for recycling or to be sold by weight to rag merchants. Next time you're visiting your local supermarket, why not take a bag of old clothes (including pre-loved underwear) to the clothes bank? It all goes to a good cause.
“McDonald's regular cups are made from virgin polypropylene (PP),” Richard Longden, group communications manager, INEOS, informs us.
So is landfill the only option for takeaway coffee cups? Thankfully, no. There are a number of specialised recycling programs for coffee cups. This includes Simply Cups and RecycleMe.
If you're dead set on reusing your take-out containers, it's best to keep cold or room-temperature things in them—this is best practice with any plastic container, really, whether it's marketed as “reusable” or not. You'll also want to avoid anything acidic or saucy, which can further encourage leaching.
They have added recycling messaging to the bins and have also made the in-store team aware that cups can be recycled there.
Biodegradable packaging for food: McDonald's uses materials like molded fiber packaging and compostable paper for its food containers. These break down naturally, leaving no harmful residue behind.
There are six new cups — made from plastic, not cadmium-tainted glasses — in this forthcoming collection. The designs include odes to Barbie, Hello Kitty, Beanie Babies, the Coca-Cola polar bear, Shrek, and McDonald's mascots.
Many high street coffee shops including McDonalds, Cafe Nero and Costa Coffee accept disposal coffee cups for recycling. These are taken to specialist facilities for recycling. Use the postcode search tool on the National Cup Recycling Scheme website to find your nearest collection point.
Not only the cup, but also the filter and lid are made of recyclable #5 plastics. You can now easily recycle your cups because you do not have to separate the lid and filter from the cup anymore.
KFC has made a big move by avoiding using plastic. They are now employing 100% recyclable paper wrappers and buckets to secure the natural world.
Three examples of products that generally cannot be recycled in standard curbside programs are plastic bags/film, Styrofoam (expanded polystyrene), and dirty/greasy paper products (like pizza boxes or paper towels). These items often contaminate recycling streams or jam machinery, requiring special disposal or collection methods, according to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and AMCS Group.
Any steel lids (e.g. some jar lids, beer bottle lids, food can lids) can instead go inside a steel food can, folded so they don't fall out, and put in your yellow-top recycling bin.
Cups should be empty, clean, and dry. In some communities, certain types of plastic cups are accepted for recycling. Plastic cups are a single-use product mainly for cold beverages. Acceptable plastic cups include to-go, takeout, or fast-food cups.
Yes, this free commercial composting and recycling program is brand-specific, which means you can only send in McCafé® Espresso Coffee Capsules–for use in Nespresso®* Original Coffee Machines–and the flexible bags they come in from this particular brand.
When Jim Henson's "The Great Muppet Caper" was theatrically released in 1981, McDonald's was swift to release its own collectible Muppet drinking glasses in promotion along with the film. State officials in Massachusetts, however, warned the glassware might contain dangerous levels of lead-based paint.
McDonald's collectible cups available online, with no meal
You can score a collectible cup without ever stepping foot at McDonald's, but be warned that an adult Happy Meal will not be included with your purchase.
Unfortunately, clothes can't go in your household recycling bin. Textiles are not considered recyclable by municipal programs; however, your state or local government may have resources to help recycle clothes and textiles.
Charity shops generally don't accept damaged, dirty, or broken items, hazardous materials (chemicals, weapons), used hygiene/beauty products, expired food, recalled baby gear (car seats, cots), old electronics, mattresses, or items with personal data. They also often refuse uniforms, company logos, flammable goods, and some safety equipment due to health, safety, or resale issues, so always check with your local store first.
You should never put the following in your recycling bin or bag: metallic wrapping paper, plastic-coated paper or photographs. Pyrex, drinking glasses, windows or mirrors. polystyrene, coat hangers and toys.