Innovative device could solve big coffee problem in Australia

Coffee drinkers across the country could soon have their cafe experience overhauled. Disposable coffee cups could soon be binned for good, and forgetting your reusable cup won’t be an issue, thanks to a new invention.

Single use cups are a major problem – Aussies use around 1.8 billion a year, and most of them end up in landfill. What most consumers don’t realise is that most paper coffee cups can't be recycled because they have a plastic inner lining to contain hot liquid.

To fix this environmental problem, customers could be asked to pay a $1 deposit for their coffee cup and 50 cents for the lid – like they do with plastic cans and bottles. The empty containers can then be returned to electronic hubs around the city. Consumers tap their card and receive a refund, and the cup is commercially washed and then reused.

A QR code on each cup will allow machines to send branded cups back to their retailer and track how many times they’ve been reused.

Related: ☕️ Controversial coffee cup trend sparks heated debate

The system has been developed by green technology company Tomra. It has set up the world’s first citywide reusable coffee cup trial with 60 retailers in Denmark. It has installed 30 collection points that resemble small Return and Earn recycling machines around the city. The company is showcasing its device at Waste Expo Australia, which is being held in Melbourne this week.

Brent Murray, a strategic account manager at Tomra, told Yahoo News, that since the program began in late January, the return rate has been over 86 per cent, and more than 550,000 beverage cups have been returned. He believes part of the program's success is that it is free for consumers to use.

“Hospitality retailers pay the same amount they would for a single-use cup. From a consumer perspective, there is no cost. As long as they return their cup they get their deposit back,” he told Yahoo News.

“It’s a really important program to reduce single use items that are ending up in waste streams – they’re not being recycled. And more importantly it’s reducing the amount of litter.”

🥤Master illusionist reveals how he changes junk into sculptures

😳 Brutal claim about one of the world's most popular meats

💧Major change for Australia's drinking water

The trial has begun with hot and cold coffee cups, but it is expected the program will soon accept all types of packing, including burger boxes, sushi trays, and other takeaway containers. The company believes it is only a matter of time before it's rolled out in Australia too.

“It could happen in all the major capitals around the country. We could do it in the Hoddle grid in Melbourne, or somewhere like Bondi. It’s right near the beach and they’ve got a big public waste problem,” Murray said.

For the program to go ahead in Australia, Torma would need to see legislative changes from government.

“They need to put bans on single use items, and that would be the catalyst for a system like this. That’s the legislative lever we need,” Murray said.

Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week’s best stories.