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Let's Talk Trash: Travel mugs

Do you use a travel mug? Do you have one but often forget to bring it? How often do you find yourself holding a disposable cup? The simple action of choosing to use a reusable mug rather than a disposal cup makes a significant difference in waste red
Let’s Talk Trash
COPIOUS CUPS: Billions of disposable cups are used each year throughout the world. Powell River Regional District’s Let’s Talk Trash team suggests always having a reusable travel mug on hand to contribute to the zero-waste movement and possibly save money. Contributed photo

Do you use a travel mug? Do you have one but often forget to bring it? How often do you find yourself holding a disposable cup?

The simple action of choosing to use a reusable mug rather than a disposal cup makes a significant difference in waste reduction, believe it or not.

We asked a local coffee shop owner how frequently staff had to empty the garbage cans. Every other hour was the answer, with the vast majority of waste being to-go cups.

Forget your cup? Consider taking a break. Make your order to stay and drink the beverage from an in-house mug.

Judging by the number of to-go cups not making it out the door, reconsider whether that to-go cup is really needed or not. If you do find a disposable cup in your possession, try to ensure it makes it into a recycling bin.

To-go cups are accepted, if empty and clean, in the container stream at the recycling depot as well as in City of Powell River’s curbside recycling program.

Most one-time-use cups are manufactured with 100 per cent bleached virgin paper. The estimate of how many disposable cups used each year is in the billions.

Disposable cups affect the environment negatively. In addition to creating a steady supply of waste, they also lead to a large consumption of natural resources and emit high levels of climate-changing greenhouse gases.

Fortunately, there are alternatives. Waste, natural resources and damage done by greenhouse gases all decrease when someone chooses to reuse.

Travel mugs and reusable shopping bags are handy to have stocked in your vehicle or daily bag. Once using a reusable cup is a habit, you will never look back. Not only will you feel empowered by contributing to the zero-waste movement, your beverage will stay warmer, it will likely taste better than drinking it out of a paper cup and most cafés often have a discount when you provide a mug.

Drink responsibly. Bring a cup.

Let’s Talk Trash is Powell River Regional District’s waste-management education program.