Apparently the polyethylene lining which makes the cups impermeable can’t be separated from the paper, so most of the cup cannot be recycled and ends up in a landfill for decades.
There are Alternatives
Chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s of BBC’s War on Waste, focused light on how few of the cups were being recycled. However there are alternatives. Frugalpac, has developed a 100% recyclable eco-cup, while some coffee shops have started using reusable cups. In fact, Starbucks offers a 50p discount to customers who use their own cups.
To find out what you can do to make more sustainable choices explore the following articles:
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/oct/05/uks-billions-of-tak…
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/programs/metromorning/recycling-ca…
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jul/21/starbucks-trials-rec…
Image: Wikimedia Creative Commons