Abstract

This study examines the generation and treatment of disposable single-use paper cups at Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT) campus located in Finland. The study was carried out within the LUT campus considering take-away venues and the waste collection system, with the intersection of the local waste treatment system. The University was considered as a closed system where different activities and services are taking place. This work contributes to a better understanding of newly adopted circularity measures and application possibilities. The research attempted to evaluate the environmental impacts, and reduction options of disposable single-use paper cups within the Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT) campus, and measured the circularity indicator of single-use paper cups.

Highlights

  • The single-use paper cup is one of the attributes of a so-called throw-away society, resulting in the generation of large amounts of hardly recyclable waste and contributing to resource depletion.GreenMatch [1] counts that 16 billion disposable polyethylene coated (PE-coated) paper cups are used each year, which results in 6.5 million trees being cut down each year, 4 billion gallons of water used per year, and the energy amount equates to the amount of power required for 54,000 homes.Single-use paper cups contain a plastic liner as a liquid barrier, which makes them a complicated material for recycling on the global scale

  • To answer the first research question (RQ1) and find out the amounts, types, and main sources of single-use paper cups generated at Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT) campus, questionnaires and interviews were conducted on site

  • The results reveal the amounts, types, and main sources of single-use paper cups generated at LUT campus as well as the current and optional waste treatment scenarios for paper cups at the university

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Summary

Introduction

The single-use paper cup is one of the attributes of a so-called throw-away society, resulting in the generation of large amounts of hardly recyclable waste and contributing to resource depletion. Single-use paper cups contain a plastic liner as a liquid barrier, which makes them a complicated material for recycling on the global scale. Recycling availability differs from country to country, and impurities in single-use packaging causes even more processing issues. Many global brands are looking for alternative barrier coatings, while other offer systematic changes by delivering circular economy principles as a tool to solve single-use packaging problems. Some venues have exceptional potential for single-use packaging circularity, but are still stuck in a linear model due to a lack of measures. Circular Economy concept is represented today as a key driver towards environmental sustainability [2]

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