logo
welcome
CBS News

CBS News

Starbucks promotes recycling to customers but many plastic cups end up in the trash

CBS News
Summary
Nutrition label

79% Informative

CBS News placed plastic cold drink cups embedded with trackers into 57 labeled recycling bins at Starbucks locations across the country.

Only four of the cups were traced to Material Recovery Facilities , where recyclables are sorted and prepared for reuse.

Greenpeace USA: U.S. recycling rate for plastics is less than 6% .

Starbucks was the first major retailer to roll out a nationwide program where customers can provide their own cup for mobile and drive-thru orders earlier this year .

Last week the Miami Zoo eliminated single-use plastics at municipal buildings.

Governments can also provide incentives for businesses to innovate by eliminating unnecessary plastics and encouraging reusable products.