Can You Recycle Paper Cups? Everything You Need to Know

It depends on whether the paper cup is recyclable or not. Think about the materials used in paper cups. Most of the disposable cups are considere non-recyclable. Because their inner layer is tightly seal with plastic. But there are some paper cups that are make with new technology. They can be recycle due to their innovative liner implementations. 

The food-grade virgin wood pulp paperboard is use in paper cups. They are lined with a waterproof barrier coating such as polyethylene and polylactic acid. Food-contact-safe glues are used to seal the sides and bottom. The food-safe inks are applied to the exterior for branding and graphics. With these materials, can you recycle paper cups? Let’s sink into it.

Are All Paper Cups the Same?

A paper cup is not made only of paper. They are manufactured with different materials. A paper cup is built to hold water without falling apart. Most of the custom paper cups have a very thin layer of plastic inside. This layer keeps the liquid from soaking into the paper. That is why it usually has a protective coating.

Paper cups can be made in different ways. Some have plastic coatings. Others may use different materials with special coatings. This is why looking at the cup alone may not tell you exactly what to do with it.

Types of Paper Cups

There are two main categories in which paper cups are divide. Let’s check these:

Paper Cups by Wall Structure Insulation

• Single Wall Paper Cups have one paperboard thin layer. 
• Double Wall paper Cups built with two layers of paperboard have an air gap in between.
• Ripple Wall cups have corrugated outer wrap over a double wall structure.
• Embossed paper cups have a textured outer surface. 

Paper Cups By Coating Inner Lining

• PE-coated cups have a thin plastic layer to prevent leaks.
• Polylactic Acid-coated cups use a plant-based bioplastic.
• Water-based coated cups are a plastic-free alternative that uses an aqueous barrier coating.

Three Major Coating Options for Paper Cups

Double wall paper cups have an inner layer to prevent water from leaking. In this way, different production companies use different materials and methods. Here are the most common coating options.

The first option is hard to recycle with specialized facilities. Meanwhile, the second option is complicate and not suitable for recycling. It depends on the type of internal coating. They can be easily recycle if coat with innovative technology. Make a wise choice if you are manufacturing paper cups. We provide green paper cups that are recyclable and environmentally friendly.

Why Does the Plastic Coating Difficult to Recycle?

Normal paper usually mixes with water and turns into a pulp. After that, it makes new paper products.

The plastic layer makes the process harder for recycling. The paper and plastic should separate to make the process simple. Not every recycling center has the equipment needed to do this. This means a paper cup may be recyclable in one place but not accepted in another.

Method for Recycling Paper Cups

There are two options for recycling paper cups. How to prep and discard them at the consumer level. And the other is from the industrial level: how a specialized mill actually turns it back into paper. 

How Consumers Should Recycle Paper Cups

1. Check the guidelines of local waste management. 
2. Pour out all remaining liquids and ice. Wet and soggy paper can ruin an entire batch of dry recycling in the bin.
3. Remove plastic lids and cardboard sleeves.
4. Throw the empty cup into the paper recycling bin.

Do not crush it flat. Sorting machines at recycling centers identify objects by their shape. If your local agenda does not accept them. It must go into the trash to prevent facility contamination. 

How Specialized Industrial Mills Process Paper Cups

At a specialized recycling plant, the physical separation of plastic and paper takes place using the following industrial steps:

• Cups are gather from dedicat collection bins.
• The mixture is violently agitat for roughly 20 to 45 minutes for recycling.
• The intensive washing swells the wood pulp. It separate and strips away from the plastic PE or PLA lining. The plastic layer detaches like a thin skin.
• The pulp goes through heavy, rough screens. The large piece of plastic lining are stuck on screens and discard.
• The clean pulp is bleach and roll into giant sheets of recycle paperboard. Then it is ready to be turn into new products.

This method makes the paper environmentally friendly and reusable for different purposes. But it relies on the process of recycling. Custom small cups have multiple layers of paperboard. They need careful recycling to separate the cardboard sleeve. 

Final Considerations

Paper cups are generally difficult to recycle in standard local bins. But they are still recyclable. A proper recycling process can make paper cups recyclable. Knowing the exact materials used in the cups helps in making decisions. The WaxPapers provide complete guides on paper cups for consumers. We covered everything here that can make them recyclable. You are now capable of deciding which paper cups you can recycle.