Beverage Cup Pilot
Learn more about the pilot program.
Toronto residents can now recycle hot and cold paper-based beverage cups at home.
As administrator of the common collection system, Circular Materials is launching this initiative to capture learnings that will support the successful expansion of this material across Ontario by 2026. The pilot covers single and multi-residential homes, care facilities, and schools in Toronto.
This pilot includes paper-based and plastic-lined hot and cold beverage cups, including hot drink cups used for coffee and tea and cold drink cups used for fountain drinks.
Limited to the city of Toronto, this pilot location was selected due to its diverse urban setting and large population, providing valuable insights into cup recycling behaviours and challenges in densely populated areas. The success of this initiative in Toronto will serve as a model for expanding cup recycling across Ontario by 2026.
Preparing your materials:
Rinse the cups: Empty your cups of any remaining liquids and give them a quick rinse to remove any residue.
Separate components: Remove lids, sleeves, and any other accessories from the cups and place them loosely in your recycling bin.
Loose placement: Place the cups loosely in the recycling bin, without stacking or nesting them together.
This allows for easier sorting and processing at the recycling facility. By following these instructions, you can ensure that your hot and cold beverage cups are properly prepared for recycling, contributing to a more efficient and effective process.
FAQs
Effective July 3, 2024, Toronto residents will be able to place their paper-based and plastic-lined hot and cold beverage cups in their recycling bin as part of a pilot program. This includes hot drink cups used for coffee and tea and cold drink cups used for fountain drinks.
Toronto residents can now recycle this material in single and multi-residential homes, long-term care homes, retirement homes and elementary/high schools.
As administrator of the common collection system, Circular Materials is piloting the recycling of this material in Toronto to capture learnings that will support the successful expansion of this material stream across Ontario in 2026.
As Circular Materials prepares to introduce this material stream across Ontario in 2026, we are launching this pilot in Toronto given the size of its population and the volume of hot and cold beverage cup waste generated. The pilot will capture learnings and support building an infrastructure for the collection and recycling of hot and cold beverage cups in all municipal recycling programs by 2026.
The pilot only applies to hot and cold beverage cups. As the province transitions to extended producer responsibility in 2026, Circular Materials will be looking for opportunities to expand the number and types of material collected in the Ontario blue box program.
This pilot is limited to the city of Toronto. However, there are other small to medium sized communities that accept hot and cold paper based beverage cups in Ontario. We encourage you to visit your local community’s recycling guide which will indicate which material is accepted in your resident recycling bin.
The hot and cold beverage cups now accepted in Toronto’s recycling program will be recycled in various regional pulp and paper mills and used to develop the necessary infrastructure and processing abilities to increase recovery of the material starting in 2026. Circular Materials is actively researching infrastructure capability of efficiently capturing, processing and recycling such items in a large urban setting where all recyclables are comingled. Insights gained from this pilot program will be instrumental in advancing domestic markets for this material stream.
To ensure that your hot and cold beverage cups are properly prepared for recycling, follow these steps:
1. Rinse the cups: Before recycling, empty your cups of any remaining liquids and give them a quick rinse to remove any residue. This helps to prevent contamination and ensures that the cups can be recycled effectively.
2. Separate components: If your cups come with additional components like lids or sleeves, make sure to separate them before recycling. Remove lids and sleeves from the cups and place them loosely in your recycling bin.
3. Loose placement: Place the cups loosely in the recycling bin, without stacking or nesting them together.
This allows for easier sorting and processing at the recycling facility. By following these instructions, you can ensure that your hot and cold beverage cups are properly prepared for recycling, contributing to a more efficient and effective process.
Yes, sleeves and lids are also recyclable but need to be removed from the beverage cup and placed loose in your recycling bin. Sleeves and lids need to be separated as they are made of different materials and require separate processing.
Straws are currently not accepted within the Blue Box program in Ontario. Depending on the material of the straw, such as a paper straw without a plastic lining, they may be able to be placed in your green bin. Residents can check the Waste Wizard to determine where to place straws.
No, the hot and cold cup recycling pilot program is designed to expand the items you can include in your recycling bin and complement existing recycling practices. Simply include hot and cold cups in your regular recycling and continue to follow the City’s other recycling guidelines. Why were hot and cold paper-based beverage cups not accepted in the City of Toronto’s recycling program before now? Hot and cold paper-based beverage cups were not previously accepted in most municipal recycling programs, including the City of Toronto, due to the complexities involved in separating the paper and plastic lining from the cup. In 2026, the province will be transitioning to extended producer responsibility where producers will be managing the collection and recycling for the blue box program. Circular Materials is piloting the collection of this material in the City of Toronto to support the full rollout across Ontario starting in 2026. Learnings will be used to further evolve the expanded scope.
This pilot aims to address the substantial volume of hot and cold beverage cups currently being disposed of in the City of Toronto by ensuring that they are recycled and repurposed into new paper and packaging products. This not only reduces waste but also conserves resources, prevents pollution and supports a circular economy, contributing to a more sustainable future.
By participating in recycling, Torontonians help ensure that these items are kept in the circular loop, minimizing their environmental footprint and promoting a circular approach to resource management.