By Jaime Scott, MoveUP Environment Committee member
Did you know that this Saturday, October 4, is No Disposable Cup Day? No Disposable Cup Day is an annual call to action for individuals and businesses to avoid using disposable cups for the day in order to reduce their impact on the environment. Even taking a break from disposables for just one day can help raise awareness and shift habits that contribute to long-term change.
Globally, at least 500 billion disposable cups are used each year. While many of these may seem recyclable, most are not. In Metro Vancouver alone, around 441 million disposable cups and takeout containers are thrown away annually. Even though we often see recycling symbols on cups or packaging, many hot beverage cups made from paper are lined with a thin layer of plastic. This lining prevents leaks, but also makes the cups difficult to recycle. Most recycling facilities are not equipped to separate the paper from the plastic effectively, and as a result, less than 1% of disposable coffee cups actually get recycled. The rest are sent to landfills, where they take years to break down. Starbucks alone uses around 7 billion cups a year globally.
It’s not just coffee and tea that contribute to the problem. Many offices, events, and public places provide disposable cups for water or other beverages. These cups are often used for just a few minutes before being tossed in the trash. Simply remembering to bring a reusable water bottle or cup could significantly reduce the number of disposable cups that end up in our waste stream. Across BC, the provincial government has introduced new regulations aimed at limiting single-use plastics and packaging, but changing daily habits is just as important.
No Disposable Cup Day is a great opportunity to build better habits. If you normally grab a coffee on your way to work, consider bringing a reusable mug instead. If your workplace offers disposable cups by the water cooler, try switching to a reusable bottle. These are small changes, but over time they add up. The more people choose reusables, the more businesses will take note and support those choices. Many cafés already offer discounts when you bring your own cup.
Environmental change doesn’t always require sweeping action. It often starts with simple decisions, made consistently. Choosing to bring your own cup may not feel like a big deal in the moment, but multiplied by thousands of people, it can have a real impact. So this Saturday, take the chance to go without a disposable cup. See how easy it is, and maybe let that one day be the start of a new habit. The planet will thank you for it.
