34. Cups, coatings, and confusion - why your coffee cup isn’t recycled

We get through a staggering 3.2 billion single-use paper coffee cups every year and most of us assume they’re easily recyclable. But the reality? It’s not that simple. In this episode, we unpack why coffee cups are so hard to recycle, why they need to be collected separately, and what role those tricky plastic coatings play. Listen to find out what you should be doing with your cup once you’ve finished that double espresso. Plus, how are lightbulbs recycled, are hot water bottles rubbish or not and how does mixing waste affect recycling rates?

Join hosts James Piper and Robbie Staniforth as they delve into the world of recycling, hopefully having fun along the way. One thing is for sure, they will talk absolute rubbish from start to finish.

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Timestamps:
How are lightbulbs recycled? - 12:10
Why your coffee cup isn't recycled - 19:35
Rubbish or Not: hot water bottles - 48:51
Does mixing waste affect recycling rates? - 53:29

Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL