A first-person YouTube video by Christina Haftman documenting her on-site disappointment that multiple Starbucks locations (example given in Northern Virginia) lack in-store recycling bins for post-consumer items (cups, lids, straws, cardboard sleeves). She notes that the cup sleeve claims to contain about 65% post-consumer fiber and reports staff saying "corporate doesn't give them" recycling bins; she asks Starbucks corporate why stores do not provide recycling receptacles and requests a response.
Questions this video answers
Christina Haftman.
July 12, 2015.
Two venti-sized Chai teas.
Northern Virginia.
The sleeve is said to be made with about 65% post-consumer fiber.
Chapters
Hey there, it's Christina. It's Sunday morning and we are at Starbucks. I'm at Starbucks. We just had two venti sized Chai teas and we come here regularly to Starbucks. All different kind of locations in the Northern Virginia area. And we are very disappointed in most of the stores, including today. And I guess today is just a threshold. So I'm making a video. We're done with our beverages and we want to recycle them. As you know, this is plastic, you can see the little recycle emblem there. This is cardboard and everything. And we want to put it, be responsible and eco friendly and environmentally conscious and put it in a recycle trash can. But I inquired with the staff here and they said that they didn't have any. And I explained to them why I was looking for one and they agreed with me and they said that corporate doesn't give them, didn't give them one. So I'm making this video for corporate asking why is it that Starbucks does not have a means of recycling cups? I mean, every single day this is something that, you know, people come regularly, daily. This is a consumable product and they're generating a lot of trash. The cups, the straws, the lids, the, what do you call these, the cardboard around it. The sleeves. The sleeves so you don't get burnt. Generating a lot of recyclable stuff every single day. I mean, there's so many locations here, they're always busy. And I'm just in Northern Virginia. There's every other state, there's every other country or a global brand. And furthermore, right here on the cup, you're bragging about the fact that the sleeve is, you know, made with what, 65% post consumer fiber, whatever, less paper than the original cup. Why do you even bother doing that? If you don't give us a bin or, you know, receptacle, I guess you say to toss this stuff into when we're done. It's cardboard, plastic. We want to do the right thing. And now I have to put it in the trash. And when I do I feel bad. So I really don't understand and it's very incongruent. What are your core values? Do you care about recycling or are you just pretending? I mean really. And this isn't the only location that doesn't have a recycling. So I think that's really irresponsible with the number, with the amount of recyclable post consumer use. I don't know what the right word is for it, content. So I would love to hear your response. We come daily, often twice a day. And you know, I don't want to carry this in my car and go look for a responsible place to get rid of it. It just is so inconvenient. Why isn't it in your stores? I'd really appreciate a response. Thank.
