Recycling access for paper beverage cups has expanded to communities representing 20% of the U.S. population, marking a sharp increase from roughly 5% a decade ago as waste companies, paper mills and packaging manufacturers broaden acceptance of paper cups in curbside recycling programs.
The milestone was compiled by Resource Recycling Systems through reviews of municipal recycling guidance and industry data, according to the Foodservice Packaging Institute.
The increase reflects broader industry efforts to establish end markets for used paper cups and improve processing capabilities at recycling facilities and paper mills, which historically struggled to separate plastic linings from paper fiber.
Natha Dempsey indicated the expansion signals growing interest among municipalities in diverting more material from landfills while broadening residential recycling services.
The Foodservice Packaging Institute launched its Community Partnership program in 2017 to help municipalities, haulers and material recovery facilities determine whether paper cups could be integrated into local recycling systems. The organization stated more than 30 communities have participated in the initiative, helping expand recycling access to approximately 8.9 million households.
Industry investments in fiber recovery technology also contributed to the expansion. Robbert Rietbroek pointed to advances in paper recovery systems designed to convert used cups into new paper-based products, including paperboard and tissue products.
The Foodservice Packaging Institute also formed the Paper Cup Alliance in 2018 with packaging and paper companies including Graphic Packaging International, Dart Container and Smurfit Westrock to expand recycling infrastructure and end-market demand.
According to the organization, the number of North American paper mills accepting recycled paper cups has increased from four facilities in 2017 to 35 today, representing roughly 75% of North American mixed-paper demand.
Several waste and recycling companies, including WM, Rumpke Waste & Recycling, GFL Environmental and Casella Waste Systems, have also publicly announced acceptance of paper cups in recycling streams.
The group encouraged communities that do not currently recycle paper cups to work with waste operators and paper mills to evaluate local processing capabilities. It also released a public education toolkit for communities already accepting paper cups for recycling.
Additional information and the resident education kit are available at Foodservice Packaging Institute Resident Education Kit
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