Closed Loop Environmental Solutions’ paper cup recycling program Simply Cups has been recognised as an Alternative Destination under the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL).
The label provides consumers with clear instructions on how to recycle paper cups at one of the 1,500 cup collection locations in Australia and includes an Alternative Destination option for specialised recycling programs.
The ARL recognition for the Simply Cups program provides a significant boost to the expansion of the label, which is rapidly becoming the trusted guide to provide consumers with accurate recycling instructions, Closed Loop said in a media release.
Under Simply Cups’ program, collected cups for recycling are given a second life in a variety of products manufactured in Australia, such as asphalt, lightweight concrete products, and as a plasterboard substitute.
Paper cups currently cannot be recycled in traditional kerbside recycling and are mostly sent to landfill. However, paper cups are expected to soon carry the ARL, with arrangements expected to be finalised in mid-late 2023.
Managed by the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), the ARL is an evidence-based label that provides easy-to-understand instructions about how to correctly dispose of all parts of a product’s packaging.
Organisations recognised by the ARL are required to verify that their packaging is recyclable and that there is a sufficient network of recycling points that are easily accessible to the majority of the population.
“APCO has been collaborating with government, packaging manufacturers, retailers and recyclers to address the recycling confusion prevalent among Australian consumers through the ARL Program,” said Chris Foley, chief executive officer of APCO.
“The Simply Cups program for coffee cups is a fantastic initiative and we are delighted to be able to provide the public with clearer guidance and greater opportunities to recycle these products after use,” Foley added.
Rob Pascoe, managing director at Closed Loop, said Simply Cups began in 2017 and has now more than 1,500 collections points across Australia.
“Around half of these collection points are accessible to all members of the public, via our partnership with 7-Eleven and an increasing number of shopping centres and supermarkets. We also have hundreds of office buildings, schools, hospitals, construction sites and more providing cup recycling at their workplaces,” Pascoe said.
