Toronto Proposes Ban on Coffee Cups
Photograph from smoodysarah on Flickr
When I go out, I'm always annoyed by the double-bagging phenomenon (whether paper or plastic) and the takeout burger covered in tissue, in a foam container, in a plastic bag.
Looks like I'm not the only one. The Toronto Star reports on the city's attempt to reduce the amount of garbage from landfills—a major environmental issue—by considering limitations on paper coffee cups, foam takeout containers, and plastic packaging.
While bans on plastic packaging have been effective in the U.S., an outright ban on paper coffee cups doesn't make much sense. Not enough people are willing to bring their own containers, and many stores are too cheap to adopt compostable materials or don't do enough to promote recycling. One of the more reasonable solutions is a fee on plastic bags—Seattle will adopt this policy in January 2009.
But what about Toronto applying a tax for takeout containers and coffee cups? Not only is this idea impractical, it doesn't do too much to solve the problem. If I want my daily 16 ounces of joe, I can either pay for the luxury of that classic paper cup, lug around my insulated container, or stay in a cafe for an extra fifteen minutes while sipping out of a ceramic mug. Here's a little bit of Coffee Shop 101: The price of the disposable container you currently get your coffee in is built into the price. Which is why you might get a discount if you bring in a mug. Unfortunately when you get lunch from the corner deli, there's no reusable container discount that I'm aware of.
Storeowners need to be more responsible by adopting compostable materials (with the help of manufacturers) or developing user-friendly recycling systems—Toronto could even penalize businesses (instead of their patrons) for continuing to add to the landfill problem. However, Toronto isn't the only city that suffers from these ridiculous garbage issues, and it's impossible to develop a plan that will be adopted by all, keep everyone happy, and end our environmental problems. Only in utopia will everyone adopt reusable mugs—and I bet you and I will forget ours every once in a while.
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9 Comments:
It irks me to no extent how things are unnecessarily packaged in containers that take forever to decompose. If something needs to be double bagged, you're best off holding it from the bottom, or bringing in your own bag to lug the item to your car. Aside from the man-made items, there should definitely be a ban on orange peels in major cities. It takes more time for an orange peel to decompose than it does a paper cup, and I hate to see landfills fill up because someone thinks they are too good for an apple.
PeteRepeat42 at 9:15AM on 09/18/08
In general, plastic bags and styrofoam need to be done away with. If manufacturers stop making these things, storeowners/the general public will stop buying them (duh). It's just such a shame that people still think it's ok to use materials that will...never...break...down.
Starbucks seems to be really open to suggestions these days (wonder why...). I few letters to them about adopting a recycling system in their stores could help. I'll go write mine now!
Smoosh at 9:21AM on 09/18/08
The people working in the stores need to be educated on the importance of limiting the use of these products -
I was in drug store buying shampoo, and when they put the bottle in a bag, I quickly said "i don't need a bag", and took the shampoo out and placed it in my reusable tote bag. The cashier said ok, and took the plastic bag, crumple it up and threw it in the garbage! Now THAT's a waste of a bag!
nalega at 10:25AM on 09/18/08
Another grocery-bagging irk for me is when baggers put 10 items in 10 bags. Then I have to either combine my separately bagged items or take my 10 bags and 10 items home, and save the bags to reuse. On the upside, I can can reuse them as I am servant to 4 lazy housecats.
beth1 at 10:58AM on 09/18/08
Now, this is really going to show my age, but I remember a time when people actually had ten minutes to sit down and drink coffee.
SqueezeBottle at 11:31AM on 09/18/08
"Storeowners need to be more responsible by adopting compostable materials (with the help of manufacturers) or developing user-friendly recycling systems—Toronto could even penalize businesses (instead of their patrons) for continuing to add to the landfill problem."
I agree with this statement but since when are paper coffee cups not compostable? Foam cups are not but paper cups - which are used by Starbucks and nearly all decent and better independents and smaller chains - are completely biodegradeable.
The same statement is only conditionally true if applied to the new corn based plastic clear cold drink cups. They're a bit of smoke and mirrors in my opinion because they will bio-degrade only if placed in a special high temperature composting system. At present there isn't any practical way to separate those corn based cups from the regualr waste stream and even if you could - the special composting facilities are few in number.
The result is people getting warm and fuzzy about using corn based plastic cups yet the used cup goes straight into a landfill and does not degrade - just like petroleum based plastic.
phaelon56 at 11:55AM on 09/18/08
I do my best to do my part as well: I bought an organic grocery re-usable bag, I have a new coffee/tea thermos, I bought energy-efficient light bulbs, the usual I guess. I'm on-board with the coffee cups too...
...could they charge some money for disposable coffee cups? I'm sure corporate mentality would be interested in that idea LOL
hungrychristel at 12:23PM on 09/18/08
Outright bans can be just the catalyst for changing consumer behaviors like you describe. Drastic times call for drastic measures, no?
Cathy@noteatingoutinny at 4:10PM on 09/18/08
The "free world" is getting ban happy after being scared by another egregious shockomentary. Instead of changing your own lifestyles you want the Government to change it for you.
YUMUY at 5:04AM on 09/19/08