Starbucks Expands Cup Recycling in Chicago

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June 30, 2010 – In an effort to create a large commercial market for its used paper cups, beginning this fall all Starbucks stores in Chicago will begin sending all of their used paper cups to Green Bay, where a Georgia Pacific paper mill will recycle them into Starbucks branded napkins.

While the program is not mandated by law in Chicago, Starbucks has been working towards lowering the footprint of their 3 billion paper cups and 1 billion plastic cold-cups used by consumers every year in all major markets, whether they are required to or not.

On the other end of the spectrum, The Seattle Times reports that new legislation in Seattle will force Starbucks to provide compost and recycling bins in all their stores for consumers to use by July 1. The law requires all grocery stores, restaurants and coffee shops in the city to provide recyclable or compostable to-go packaging for all products, and to recycle and compost themselves.

The city is following the trail blazed by San Francisco and Ontario, which also require recycling and composting in the stores.