Why doesn't Starbucks recycle?

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Permalink Reply by Chad McCullough on September 2, 2009 at 7:28am

I don't accept their reason for lack of commercial recycling programs. Starbucks has lots of money. They can afford to pay someone to take their recyclables to a local recycling plant if there aren't commercial options. Actually, there are companies here in Indy that do local recycling. We use one of them here in Beech Grove. Many (if not all) local coffee shops here in Indy recycle so I give them my money.

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Permalink Reply by Dave Gibbs on September 2, 2009 at 8:18am

I think instead of beating up on Starbucks, it would be more constuctive to start developing a group that works with local gov't to strategize a plan to develop a recycle program in our neighborhoods. When I lived in Seattle, we recycled between 25-35 percent of the city's garbage. We can do it too! And I'm sure, so would Starbucks.

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Permalink Reply by Pat Coyle on September 2, 2009 at 10:45am

I really don't mean to beat up Starbucks. I'm a huge customer and love the product. But as my awareness of recycling has grown, I've often found myself wondering why I can't put my plastic bottles or paper cups in a recycle bin rather than a trash can when I'm in a Starbucks store, especially given the ethos of the brand.

Do we need recycling in our neighborhoods, or do we need a commercial recycling program? That's what Starbuck's Website indicates. Either way, I would like to see this highly visible corporate citizen make a little extra effort in this area..at the prices they charge, seems to me they can afford it, and it would set a good example for the customers.

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Permalink Reply by Parke Ladd on September 2, 2009 at 11:08am

Recycling is an old way of thinking. What we should really do is develop a 100% bio-degradable coffee cup and other coffee shop supplies which are ordinarily just thrown away or recycled. This would eliminate the huge monetary and energy expenses related to recycling and trash.

Why not be known as the city that re-invented the coffee cup rather than the city that jumped on the recycling band wagon 20 years too late? Who knows, maybe Starbucks is thinking the same thing.

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Permalink Reply by Pat Coyle on September 2, 2009 at 11:23am

That's a big idea. How do we get started?

(I'd drink the coffee out of my cupped hands, but it's too hot and I'd have to sue the company twice a day to support my habit). Do I need to mention I'm kidding? About the lawsuit part anyway.

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Permalink Reply by Matt Barnett on September 2, 2009 at 11:10am

I don't know about Indy's commercial recycling programs, but the fact is you can always recycle. If it's a priority for your company, you can find a way. Big fan of the bio-degradable angle, Parke.

Of course, whatever happened to Reduce and Reuse - the bastard step-siblings of Recycle. Bring your own travel mug to Starbucks.

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Permalink Reply by Leslie Payne on September 14, 2009 at 3:31pm

For the price they pay in their paper supplies, why not promote bring your own travel mug/coffee mug (size would have to be noted) or buy one of theirs and when you use it you get $$ discount or with ## of refills get one free (don't they do something like that with their mugs?) anyway, it would reduce the amount of paper cups they use, possibly increase business and make it a win/win opportunity. Even if a few of the local managers do it for a 30-day timeframe to measure response before corporate gets involved. I know in today's world, if corporate doesn't approve it you don't do it. But sometimes asking for forgiveness instead of permission, while it can be a huge risk, can be a huge reward! If it works in good old Indiana, it most certainly would work in other more eco-conscious areas. All they have to lose is the size of their carbon footprint!

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Permalink Reply by Jason Gloye on September 2, 2009 at 11:36am

I can see why for a global company it would be difficult to organize a recycling plan for each specific store. That being said, why not work with people in our area to set up a network that caters to local Starbucks locations. Volunteers could help establish recycling plans with stores. Recycling bins could be placed in locations and if the employees don't want to take the contents to a recycling location, then community volunteers could certainly do so. Lots of people take their recyclables anyhow, surely a Starbucks is on the way. Why not be pro-active ourselves, rather than waiting on the corporation to take a stance?

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Permalink Reply by Joe Dager on September 2, 2009 at 1:22pm

Great question Pat, and I really enjoyed the quality and simple answers to the issues. Just about all of them have merit and can make significant differences.

1. Commerical Company: At first I objected to this statement since many people think that all companies have deep pockets. However, after thinking about it, I do believe that every commercial company should have a responsibility to create a recycle program, Starbucks included. It should be part of their operating plan on a global basis. Like all things, there are exceptions but there is no reason that there should not be a procedure to validate the exception not to recycle.

2. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle: We do forget about the other 2 very often and thanks for the reminder, Matt. But, why not promote using someone's own cup and give a coupon or incentives for the use of one. The ability to reduce inventory, handle less trash,recycle from the use of customer's cups would be phenomenal. Easy thing to do, hand over your cup and they pour your serving in it.

3. Bio-degradable seems a little tough and longer process but a very novel idea.

After reading the thread it seems like there is simple and logical answer: Starbuck users, start requesting the drink be poured in your own cup! Start your own revolution!

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Permalink Reply by Pat Coyle on September 2, 2009 at 2:27pm

Point #3...duh! Why didn't I think of that! I can do that right away!!

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Permalink Reply by Parke Ladd on September 2, 2009 at 2:45pm

I love this conversation, and I think the reason I love it is because it allows us the opportunity to both create or re-affirm ideas which can be implemented both instantly and in the future.

Taking your own cup to Starbucks (or your coffee house of choice) is something tangible, and you can really do it if you want = little effort, huge payoff, could start a revolution as Joe says.

And for the future, once the so called coffee cup revolution is started, we can start to build products (bio-degradable products, etc) in order to eliminate the need for recycling and huge trash/waste costs, period .

This is a great example of how we can make a huge impact by doing something extremely small which could later lead to truly revolutionary concepts and products and a better Indiana.

Pat, this has inspired me to do some more extensive research on bio-degradable properties. Do you know of anyone who would be knowledgeable in this field whom I could contact?

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Permalink Reply by Pat Coyle on September 2, 2009 at 3:12pm

I don't, but I'll be someone around here does. Will you start a forum thread? I'll promote it.

Meanwhile, I'm thinking I will create a smaller indiana / Keep Indiana Beautiful / Hoosier Environmental Council travel mug and make 'em for sale to Smoosiers who want to help.

Just what I needed...another project :-)

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