Plastic and Paper Cups from Companies Nationwide Now Accepted in More Local Recycling Programs
WM, North America’s leading environmental solutions provider and largest recycler, has added plastic cups made of polypropylene and paper to-go cups to its universal list of accepted recyclable materials. This means residents can recycle to-go cups curbside in more local recycling programs across the U.S.
WM is encouraging municipalities and customers to help make this progress impactful by adding paper and plastic cups to accepted materials lists to help reach two new recycling designations. Both designations communicate to consumers about the recycling progress that will help more materials to be recycled and used again in a new product or package.
Polypropylene cups are approaching a qualification for a Widely Recyclable designation from How2Recycle®, North America’s most recognizable on-pack disposal label, which would mean more than 60 percent of U.S. residents can recycle plastic beverage cups curbside. The Recycling Partnership’s State of Recycling Report indicates households generate on average about the same amount of polypropylene as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) used for items such as laundry detergent, milk or shampoo bottles, yet the recycling rate for polypropylene is one-third of what it is for HDPE.
Paper beverage to-go cups are trending toward meeting the criteria for the Check Locally designation from How2Recycle, which would mean at least 20 percent of communities accept paper cups in curbside recycling collection.
“Plastic and paper to-go cups are showing up in greater volumes at our facilities,” said Tara Hemmer, chief sustainability officer, WM. “We are executing on our plans to invest $1.4 billion in new recycling infrastructure across North America to unlock recycling capabilities and solutions so that more material can be turned into new products. Recycling works best when it’s accessible—and when industry leaders like WM, local communities, consumers and companies who purchase recycled material for new products and packaging all work together.”
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