i work at Starbucks in Australia, and whilst we don’t have laws here that tell us that we have to recycle, we still do it… it’s up to the individual store and the practices that they have, you can’t condemn an international company for something that only a handful out of the thousands of stores practices. If it’s the law then fair enough, that store should be reprimanded, but if the majority of any company is doing the right thing, why should many be punished for the actions of a few?

I would go to the Starbucks website and email them with your concerns.

Boycott… they are HUGE, yes, so one person might not make that much of a difference… But I have been boycotting Starbucks since October 07.

Hows that been working out for you lacy?

Part of the problem with Starbucks recycling is that most recyclers wont take anything with food waste, therefore all your plastic cups and paper bags would need to be emptied and washed before being recycled. Also you can’t recycle the cups because they’ve been waxed. To my knowledge most of the stores at least in my area recycle the cardboard boxes everything comes in and all the used coffee grounds are given away as compost. Having worked at a Starbucks briefly, I can’t think of anytime there was glass waste. I think the better alternative would be to offer stronger incentives for customers to bring they’re own reusable mugs (currently you can save something like 50 cents if you do) or encourage the use of the ceramic mugs that Starbucks does have but should be offered more often. Perhaps a simple, “for here or to go” and if the customer is staying, automatically give them a ceramic mug or serve their pastry on a plate instead.

I also encountered this at the Mall of America location...I had a “soda” bottle and asked if they recycled and they replied in an ashamed tone, “no.” So, I said, you should.  They said, “I know.” To me that should be enough of a conversation to produce change.  Employees really need to use their voices too...!  Starbucks as a whole could implement it.  Did their blackout/shutdown include that?  I have not followed up...Maybe they did start recycling...though as we all know change most often doesn’t seem to work like that… So, I just took my bottle home.  We can still be responsible.

While Starbucks might not recycle, instead of a disposable cup, take in your own, or actually sit down and use one of their glass cups while there.  Also, they could recycle the syrup bottles. They should be made of a #1 or #2 plastic (the most widely accepted numbers).

If they aren’t, shame on them. I am going to be sending a friendly email to them asking about their policy.

I will keep you posted.

I am suprized Starbucks hasn’t come up with easily implemented, new ways to do better, like to give discounts for folks who bring in their own cup/mug.

Here in NC, there are so many independent shops that allow you bring your cup and leave it there and when you come to sit, you use your own cup. Most of them charge ALOT more to use the paper cups and a portion of the proceeds go to help Green organizations.

Humbleriver - Apr 17, 2008 06:16pm

I am suprized Starbucks hasn’t come up with easily implemented, new ways to do better, like to give discounts for folks who bring in their own cup/mug.

Here in NC, there are so many independent shops that allow you bring your cup and leave it there and when you come to sit, you use your own cup. Most of them charge ALOT more to use the paper cups and a portion of the proceeds go to help Green organizations.

I am in NC as well and receive a discount at my local coffee shop for bringing my own cup. They also use fair-trade, organic beans that they roast themselves.  They also ask you not to take a sleeve for your cup unless you need it.

Good to hear from another Carolinian!

Email, while better then nothing, is the least effective method. If you can get a comment card at the actual Starbucks that’s probably really effective. Try talking to the manager in person. Calling is super effective if you want to contact the chain.

I would say talking to the people at the local shop would be the best way to start. If they start recycling they can be an example to the others. It would probably save them money on trash removal, so they might be a case study for the rest of the chain.

There are so many ways to bring forth change...in “big” ways, in “little” ways...Like Jack said, “Let it be sung.” And I think that’s the key...just say what you think/feel in whatever way you can...when you think/feel it, speak it (sing it)...those are the seeds we sow...the hard part is while we wait...cause it takes a bit to grow.

I am not a big coffee person, but I stumbled upon this article:
http://www.enn.com/pollution/article/36493

Published May 19, 2008 08:40 AM
Starbucks Goes Ceramic

As part of its re-organization at the helm of founder Howard Schultz, Starbucks has decided it will make ceramic cups the global standard in all stores again, at least for in-store orders.

The national coffee shop is also going to convert its stores to at least 50 percent renewable energy by 2010.

Other highlights from the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility report:

Starbucks will try to purchase 80 percent sustainable coffee by 2013 through Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E.) Practices. The company is already involved with ecosystem services, where companies try to repay nature for the products they produce. If you’re getting a Starbucks to-go order, bring in your own reusable mug and you might get a discount on your coffee purchase. You can also ask for leftover coffee grounds to place in your compost bin.

I just thought I would post this link,

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/02/how_to_green_your_coffee_and_tea.php

According to the site, Starbucks has a universal policy under which they will brew a French press of fair trade coffee for anyone who asks. You can take the “Starbucks Challenge” and ask to order a cup of Fair Trade coffee the next time you visit the store. You can then log onto the site and email or post your feedback. When they’ve received a good amount of feedback, they plan to contact Starbucks to see what their response is.

By the way, Ten Thousand Villages sells fair-trade, organic coffee and will recycle the old coffee bag for you when you are done.