Green your morning coffee!

Maybe you've heard of this small coffee shop called Starbuck's.  I'm pretty sure you might have one on your local corner and across the street from that one is probably another one.  If you're unsure, just get the Starbuck's iphone application to direct you, become their friend on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.  Your choice.  What comes with millions of people enjoying their morning, afternoon and evening java across the country, and probably the world, is lots and lots of disposable cup and accessory waste.  3 billion or more to be more exact.  As of now, Starbuck's is aiming toward greener horizons with this plan of action:

What we’re working on.

Our goal is that by 2015 100 percent of our cups will be reusable or recyclable. To help achieve this goal, we’ve made the following commitments:

• Developing and launching recyclable hot and cold cups by 2012
• Reducing paper and plastic cup usage in our stores by 25 percent by using reusable mugs instead
• Having recycling available in our stores
• Re-establishing glassware or ceramic mugs as our global standard for our customers who enjoy their beverages in our stores
• Converting all of our plastic cups to polypropylene in our stores in North America and Latin America, and Foodservice accounts by 2009

(Source:  http://www.starbucks.com/SHAREDPLANET/environmentalInternal.aspx?story=greenerCups)

This is positive, but how many Starbuck's are offering recycling?  The ones I have been at do not offer recycling, but have recycling posters in the window.  Seems odd.  A press release from their site states the following:

Our policy for Starbucks company-operated stores is that where recycling services are available, stores are expected to recycle.  
(Source: http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/pressdesc.asp?id=792)

So here's how we should green up our coffee.

1.  Take your own coffee/beverage drinking device, usually called a mug, tumbler, thermos and the like. Starbuck's offers a 10 cent discount if you do.  I know, not amazing, but it's 10 cents and you're helping to save the environment.

2.  Recycle what you can.  The hot cups are not recyclable, but a lot of the other items are.  There are the cardboard sleeves, straws, plastic cups, paper, etc.

3.  Ask your local Starbuck's to provide recycling.  They have a lot of other waste like milk jugs and cartons behind the scenes that should be recycled.  I know one person asking the random high school student behind the counter is not going to do it.  So be active and leave a comment or write the manager or owner.  Start a local petition or a nicer word like neighborhood suggestion?  Tell me and I'll spread some Green Justice!

We want to work together.  If they are making the efforts they claim, it should be upheld in every store.  Taking your own mug will help eliminate the billions of cups going into our landfills and taking up who knows how much space.  Can you imagine what 3 billion Starbuck's cups look like?  And that's just one year's worth.  Whoa.

It's an easy way to be eco-conscious (and feel good about yourself) so it's a win win!