a closed-loop collection program for paper cups made with EarthCoating®

Businesses, retailers, office buildings, schools and venues can order reCUPs today in support of using less plastic and diverting waste from our landfills and oceans.

In Southern California, (Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties for starters) the reCUP® Recycling Initiative provides closed-loop collection services for reCUPs and other recyclables. 

In Northern California, (San Francisco, Berkeley, Sacramento, etc.) we’re seeking new coffee shops to join the movement and start close-loop collecting paper cups made with EarthCoating®.

In Nevada (Reno/Sparks are for starters), a reCUP® Recycling Initiative pilot has been launched and we’re seeking new coffee shops to join the movement and start close-loop collecting paper cups made with EarthCoating®

Looking to start a new reCUP® Recycling Initiative location? Contact us today!


1. Retailers start by using paper cups made with EarthCoating® to serve customers. (Click here to order reCUPs).

2. Customers dispose of reCUPs in designated closed-loop recycling bins (and may be given various incentives to bring their reCUPs back to the store should they take them to go).

3. Recycling haulers* pick up the reCUPs and bring them to the materials recovery facility (MRF) or recycled paper mill. *If recycling haulers are not available in your area immediately, we’ll work with you to find the best way to get your used paper cups made with EarthCoating® recycled.

4. The MRF weighs and pays the recycling hauler for the materials. The recycling hauler captures the waste diversion metrics and provides real-time reporting.

5. The MRF bales the materials for sale to a recycled paper mill.

6. The recycled paper mill pulps the bales of reCUPs into recycled paper for sale to a packaging converter.

7. The packaging converter produces paperboard packaging out of the recycled paper which they sell to retailers and other business.

Below is a diagram of how the program works:

 

Once you start using reCUPs, you can arrange for one of our recycling partners to collect your post-consumer reCUPs and other recyclables (plastic bottles, cans, cardboard, etc.) for recycling. If we’ve yet to establish a reCUP Recycling Initiative in your area, contact us to discuss the details and get one started.

Our recycling partners capture waste diversion metrics. That's right, you can keep track of how much waste you divert from the landfill.


Get the facts.

To learn more about how reCUPs process through existing paper recycling equipment, download our Repulpability Report now.