There is a debate raging in Toronto right now about what to do with the 350 million coffee cups that are thrown out annually in this city. What started as a fairly simple initiative, though–to charge people for takeout cups or give them a refund for bringing their own–has grown into one of those never-ending research projects government is so good at. (See “Tempest in a coffee cup” in the Star for the full story.)
I could write 1000 words about this, but for all the things I agree and disagree with in this debate, there’s one simple initiative that has been largely ignored: staff asking people if they would like their coffee for here or to go. Look around a Starbucks or Tims anytime and you’ll notice most people sitting at the tables are drinking out of takeout cups. I know most people do take their cups out, but in what way would it inconvenience anyone serving coffee to ask if the person will be staying or going? If the customers stays, and uses a mug, that’s one less cup in the garbage and it didn’t cost anyone anything. (And I know that mug has to be washed, but this is a debate about garbage, not the greater sustainability issue.) It would be a small difference, but I think, an important one. A lot of people probably don’t even know they can get a china cup in Tim Horton’s and this gives people a more obvious choice.
Photo: Flickr
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I am going purely on speculation here but I think servers tend to prefer the take-out cups for everyone because they don’t want to wash the dishes. It has to be on the customers to ask, I think, and that’s going to take some serious education/awareness campaigns. Timmy’s will give you ceramic if you ask but I don’t think Starbucks even has that option.
But let’s get to brass tacks here, Bailey. How can I ever win my new car from Timmy’s if I am drinking from a coffee mug? I can’t roll up the rim!
Don’t even get me started on the Roll up the Rim campaign, Boughner! Man, they give the people that actually do ask for a mug a takeout cup as well so they get a chance too. Talk about dis-incentives. (Full disclosure: I have gotten Timmy’s in the past few weeks, in takeout cups, and rolling up that stupid rim with every hope I’d win a Venza. Did I? No. Hence the rant? Fair question.)
I agree — the stores don’t want to wash the mugs. But when you weigh that in with all the other factors being discussed right now: the companies railing against any fees associated with takeout cups, the hygiene concerns with customer’s mugs, the recycling conundrum of lids vs. cups, wouldn’t it seem that washing a few more mugs is a fair compromise? I don’t really think most people would remember to indicate whether they’re staying or going — but the servers could surely remember to ask at least most of the time. Or put up a sign!