They may seem harmless, but a new website has been launched from Tasmania that wages war on disposable coffee cups.
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Cafes that welcome the use of reusable mugs and cups can now register at cupconsciouscafe.com allowing discerning coffee drinkers to home in on them.
The initiative, launched by Markets for Change, aims to reduce the estimated 38 billion coffee cups that are thrown away around the world each year, of which Australia is responsible for about 1 billion.
Markets for Change chief executive Peg Putt said not only are the one-use cups wasteful but, contrary to popular belief, they are also not recyclable.
“It’s basically just a waste for start to finish,” she said.
Cafes that register with cupconsciouscafe.com will be given a sticker to display to let people know they accept reusable cups; in return they will be mapped on the website so people can seek and find them.
“Lots of people really want to be able to use their reusable cup but don’t know whether or not that’s going to be okay when they go into a cafe, and they don’t want to have to go through the whole palava of being the odd one out who asks difficult questions about using their own cup,” Ms Putt said.
Several Hobart cafes have already signed up, and Ms Putt is hoping to see Launceston cafes get on board.
“What we found when we started talking to cafes was that they are generally also very aware of the issue of the take away, throw away cups but feel they have to provide them because that’s what people do these days and they can’t afford to not compete,” she said.
The initiative has already started to go global, with people around the world keen to extend the movement to their country.
“We’ve had people out in Edinburgh and in New York City signing people up, and someone way up in the highland of Scotland thinks she might get her entire community, every cafe, to sign up so that will become the first cup conscious community around the world,” Ms Putt said.
Markets for Change is seeking volunteers to help get the word out around the state about the initiative.
Anyone interested in joining their cafe to the movement, finding a cup conscious cafe near them or volunteering can get in touch on the website or at mfc@marketsforchange.org.