What did the Beyond Plastics investigation reveal about the recyclability of Starbucks cold cups?

The Beyond Plastics investigation revealed that none of the Starbucks cold cups labeled as 'widely recyclable' were actually recycled; Bluetooth-enabled trackers placed on 36 cups across nine US states and Washington, DC showed that all tracked cups ended up in landfills or incinerators—not recycling facilities—over a three-month period.

How did Beyond Plastics conduct its investigation into Starbucks cup disposal?

Beyond Plastics conducted its investigation by placing Bluetooth-enabled trackers inside Starbucks cold cups deposited in recycling bins at Starbucks stores across nine US states and Washington, DC, then monitored the signals from 36 such trackers over three months to trace their final destinations.

Investigation Finds Starbucks Cold Cups Not Actually Recycled

May 22, 2026

An investigation by Beyond Plastics revealed that none of Starbucks' cold cups claimed to be recyclable were processed at recycling facilities over three months. Most tracked cups ended up in landfills or incinerators.

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