Posted November 2, 2009

Q: Dear Charlie,
I am a barista in a Seattle coffee shop. I would like to make sure we are recycling as much as we can but only those things that can be recycled. I have specific questions about disposing of odd coffee shop items like receipt paper and whip cream canisters. Can you help me green my coffee shop?

Cat 

A: Calling all Seattle Baristas!

The following scenario is probably all too familiar. You’re topping off that delicious hot chocolate with whipped cream, and slowly but surely you run out of gas and that fluffy topping is barely sputtering out. You take out the empty cartridge, glance left at the trash bin, then right at the recycling bin. As an eco-conscious barista, what is one to do!?

Coffee shops are full of odd disposable items. CleanScapes' Waste Diversion team did an audit for a local coffee shop and answered several questions about how to dispose of common coffee shop waste. Read on to find out how to green your coffee shop!

The following simple steps will maximize your staff's ability to divert waste from the garbage into the recycling and compost:

• Make it convenient. Make sure baristas can easily reach the recycling or compost containers. Put a compost container next to the coffee machine for used coffee grounds and/or filters. Put a recycling container in the loading area where staff unpack and dispose of boxes.

• Signage and Pictures. Label your garbage, recycling and compost with clear signage – make sure staff see three distinct disposal options. Use pictorial signs for quick reference reminders about what goes where.

• Conduct an Audit. Take a day’s worth of garbage and look for items that could have been recycled or composted. Once you identify these items, you’ll be able to more effectively educate your staff and make improvements. To request a free audit with CleanScapes staff, call (206) 250-7500.

• Continued Education. Take time to educate your staff. Include recycling and compost rules in new hire paperwork to ensure continuity of your program.

Here's a cheat sheet for disposing of all those tricky coffee shop items (If you do not use CleanScapes for Recycling, contact your hauler for a list of accepted items):

Empty Whipped Cream Cartridges

•  If the canister is plastic, that has to go in the trash.

•  If you have steel or other clean ferrous containers, toss them in the recycling and rest assured they will have a second life. All clean ferrous scrap metal less than 2’x2’x2’ can be put in your recycling container. Think of your steel CO2 cartridges as an especially dense soup can.

Cups & Lids

Paper cups can be recycled, but only if they are clean or rinsed. Keep this in mind next time you bump a stack of cups onto the floor – you probably can’t serve your next americano in a cup off the floor, but that cup is clean enough to recycle. Clean plastic cold drink cups also fall into this category. Dirty plastic and paper cups belong in the garbage. For information about compostable cup products: www.gogreenscene.com.

Plastic lids over 3" in diameter can be recycled.

Straws and Straw Wrappers

Straws cannot be recycled, so toss them in the garbage. Paper straw wrappers are recyclable, while plastic straw wrappers are garbage.

Receipt Paper

Tear off that long tape of receipt paper and aim for the recycling bin. Clean paper is recyclable in Seattle.

Juice or Lemonade Boxes

Many coffee shops buy juice, lemonade or other drinks in boxes or cartons lined with foil. CleanScapes now accepts these for recycling.

Coffee Grounds

Coffee is your business and disposing of coffee grounds should be the easiest green decision you make all day. We know you're busy -- keep a food waste container next to your coffee machines so you can make the right disposal decision without thinking.

Lining the food waste can with a compostable bag will help keep the container clean and could save you a step at the end of your shift.

Plastic Food Containers

CleanScapes now accepts all clear, rigid, plastic food containers and plastic-coated paper box containers. Salad containers, sandwich containers, past containers...you get the picture. Make sure these are clean before you recycle them.

Ceramic Dishes and Mugs

Usable ceramics can be donated or resold. Look into local thrift shops, Freecycle.org or donateseattle.org. Broken ceramic dishes and broken glass go in the garbage.

Plastic Wrap

CleanScapes accepts clean, dry plastic wrap for recycling.

More Q + A for Reducing Your Garbage

Charlie, the son of CleanScapes' founder, is here to answer all your questions about what to recycle and compost and how to responsibly get rid of scary things like computers or batteries. Read what others have asked, and if you have a question, ASK CHARLIE!