Why they can't go in your recycling bin

Standard coffee cups are made from liquid paperboard. That’s a mix of paper and a thin layer of plastic to make it waterproof.

At the moment, processing of liquid paperboard isn’t very effective so when coffee cups are put in the recycling bin, they contaminate the other items to be recycled.

What you can use instead

Grab a reusable coffee cup and help avoid the 1 billion disposable coffee cups that Australians throw away every year. Many cafes now offer a small discount for bringing your own reusable cup. To find participating cafes near you, check the Responsible Cafes website.

What about lids?

See our Coffee cup lids page.

Waste and recycling during coronavirus (COVID-19)

Household waste and recycling collections will continue as normal.

In metro Melbourne, council waste and recycling facilities are not open to the public. These facilities include collection, treatment, disposal and transfer stations. They will remain open for commercial contractors only.

In regional Victoria, facilities are open. Visitors must follow all directions and instructions for maintaining a COVIDSafe environment.

If you have unwanted items at home, hold onto them until these facilities re-open. For other options, check the waste and recycling advice for your local council area.

For more information on the roadmap across Victoria please refer to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Want to recycle something else?

Search for another item to find out if it can go in your home recycling bin or if it needs to be dropped off somewhere else.