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.
Household waste and recycling collections will continue as normal.
Council waste and recycling facilities, including collection, treatment, disposal and transfer stations, are now open across all of Victoria.
Visitors must follow all directions and instructions for maintaining a COVIDSafe environment.
For more information on the location of your nearest facility, check the waste and recycling advice for your local council area.
For more information and updates, visit the Victorian Government’s coronavirus (COVID-19) website.
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.