Paper Cup Recycling
- 100% recycling
- Zero emission collections
- Option to buy back recycled paper
- Part of our RecyclePlus scheme
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Are you letting your paper cups go to waste?
Paper cups have traditionally been difficult to recycle because they have a polyethylene film bonded to them. The film makes the cup waterproof and helps it to retain its structure, but it is also difficult for traditional recycling facilities to separate the paper from the polyethylene film. As a result, millions of paper cups a day go into general waste bins and are sent to Energy from Waste (EfW) facilities or landfill.
However, our service and our partner’s facilities are fully equipped to recycle 100% of your paper cups. Our cost-effective and hassle-free paper cup recycling service includes separate colour-coded bins, tailored collections to suit your needs and the reassurance that you’ve chosen a sustainable alternative.
Cut costs and carbon with paper cup recycling
Our hassle-free service recycles 100% of your used paper cups, leaving zero waste through specialist reprocessing.
We can collect and recycle a variety of paper cups, including:
- Most polyethylene (PE)-coated cups, like double-walled hot cups (used by chains like Costa and Starbucks) and cold cups coated inside and out (used by McDonald’s for drinks and shakes)
- Most paper cups manufactured by Seda, Huhtamaki, Benders, Dart and IP
- Recycled cups made of bleached fibres only
Our partnership with industry-specialist CupCycling™ by James Cropper marries our extensive waste collection and disposal network with the latest technology in paper cup recycling.
Working together, we provide customers with a tailored service, guaranteeing 100% recycling and the opportunity to buy office paper made from recycled cups – adding a very big tick in the box for closed loop recycling.
Guaranteed 100% paper cup recycling
Working with industry-specialist CupCycling™ by James Cropper, we’ll recycle 100% of your waste cups with the option to buy back-office paper made from recycled cups
Paper cup recycling bins
We provide dedicated paper cup recycling bins equipped with a 7.5 litre reservoir for excess liquids and a side pod for lids and stirrers, ensuring proper disposal and recycling
Combined collections
Our RecyclePlus scheme includes paper cup recycling, alongside other specialised waste like compostables and paper towels, all collected in a single electric-powered vehicle for convenient, cost-effective recycling
Monthly reporting
We provide regular statistics so you can see the environmental and financial benefits of recycling your paper cups
Trusted by over 15,000 businesses
We understand the complexities of paper cup disposal
At Grundon, we’re committed to helping you recycle more. We understand that the upcoming 2025 mandate, requiring businesses with 10 or more employees selling takeaway drinks in fibre-based single-use cups to recycle them, poses a significant challenge.
With our expert guidance, specialised paper cup bins, and flexible collection schedules, we are perfectly placed to help you ensure your paper cups are given new life.
Contact us today to transform your waste management and ensure your business is both eco-friendly and regulation-ready.
Tell us about your paper cup waste and we’ll provide you with a bespoke quote
We’ll schedule your collections and safe compliant disposal
Your business remains full compliant with clear documentation and ongoing support
Why do my paper cups need specialist recycling?
Paper cups are made of two materials – paper and the polyethylene film which is bonded to it. This makes the cups waterproof and enables them to retain their shape and structural integrity when filled with liquids. However, it is the bonding between these two materials that makes it difficult to separate the paper fibres from the polyethylene film.
Only a select few specialist recycling facilities have the technology to accept paper cups for recycling and our partner CupCycling™ by James Cropper is one of them.
What bins will I need and what do I have to do?
Paper cups need to be recycled separately from other waste, so we deliver specially-designed internal paper cup recycling bins with clear instructions about correct disposal. Each bin has a removable 7.5 litre central reservoir where excess liquid can be poured into before disposing of the empty cups. There’s also a specially-designed side pod for the disposal of lids, stirrers etc. These are collected and disposed of separately as general waste.
The bins are designed to allow the collection and stacking of used paper cups, and they come with bespoke certified CarbonNeutral® liners (made from sugarcane polymers), so they are easy to empty and keep clean. Once the bin is full, put the waste sack with the cups into one of our colour-coded external cup recycling bins, where they can be stored until your next scheduled collection.
Depending on the quantities your business is producing and the frequency of collections, we have a variety of bin sizes, including 240 litre wheeled bins, and 660 litre and 1100 litre drop-fronted wheeled containers for larger quantities.
What happens to my paper cups?
The ‘clean’ waste paper cups are taken back to one of our Materials Recovery Facilities for processing and baling. This ensures that the material is of the highest quality before being sent onwards to our partner, industry-specialist CupCycling™ by James Cropper for recycling. James Cropper will then process the waste paper cups, recycling 100% of the materials and leaving zero waste.
Approximately 90% of the material will be paper, which will be converted back into Forest Stewardship Council (FCS) certified paper fibre. The remaining 10% is made up of the plastic polymers from the polyethylene film and will be sent for reprocessing into insulation for electrical cabling.
Can I really buy back paper made from paper cups?
Yes. Our paper cup recycling service ensures waste paper cups are given a new life as a variety of paper products. For example, a sheet of 380gsm paper is made of five paper cups, so you can order paper products for your business, such as 100% recycled 80gsm office paper. By doing so, you complete a closed-loop recycling system that helps to enhance your environmental credentials.
How can you help me encourage staff and visitors to recycle their paper cups?
The more people engage with a project, the better the results, so we go to great lengths to help educate our customers employees and visitors about the correct segregation and benefits of recycling paper cups.
We work with you to devise a bespoke communications programme to meet your needs, providing information and practical advice, such as clear signage, posters and Waste Awareness Days.
Arrange your paper cup collection with Grundon today