Paper cups now recyclable in Memphis (no, they weren’t before)
The City of Memphis’ Solid Waste Division previously did not accept paper cups for recycling because of the plastic coating, which makes the cups more complicated to break down. (Ben Margot/AP Photo file)
Paper cups are mostly made from a fiber that’s desirable to recycling mills, and there are a growing number of mills that accept plastic-coated paper cups included in bales of other paper materials.
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Solid Waste Division Philip Davis recycling Republic ServicesKeely Brewer
Keely Brewer is a Report for America corps member covering environmental impacts on communities of color in Memphis. She is working in partnership with the Ag & Water Desk, a sustainable reporting network aimed at telling water and agriculture stories across the Mississippi River Basin.
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