We’re launching Lyria 3.5 in Google Flow Music, with advances across musicality, lyrics, vocals, and creative control
deepmind.google·6d ago
AI Engineering
Hacker News·May 20·6 min read
Tracking Starbucks' 'widely recyclable' cups: none ended up at recycling
TL;DR
Starbucks marketed cups as 'widely recyclable,' but tracking revealed a critical gap: most recycling facilities cannot actually process them due to plastic coating and composite materials. Researchers physically tracked cups through waste streams using RFID tags and manual follow-up to map their actual destination.
✦ Why It Matters
Engineers designing circular economy systems must verify end-of-life infrastructure exists before labeling products recyclable—marketing claims alone don't guarantee material recovery.
Key Takeaways
- Verify recycling claims made by companies before supporting their products.
- Advocate for reusable alternatives in your community.
- Educate others about the limitations of current recycling systems.
- Support policies aimed at reducing single-use plastics.
Full Summary
Beyond Plastics conducted a three-month investigation using Bluetooth trackers placed in Starbucks' polypropylene cold cups to assess their recycling outcomes. The study tracked 53 cups across 35 locations, finding that none reached recycling facilities; 16 ended up in landfills, 9 in incinerators, and 8 at waste-transfer stations.
This contradicts Starbucks' claims that these cups are 'widely recyclable,' as the U.S. recycling rate for plastics is under 6%, with polypropylene being particularly challenging to recycle. The investigation also revealed that many Starbucks locations did not offer any recycling options at all.
These findings raise concerns about the effectiveness of corporate recycling claims and the need for more sustainable practices in the beverage industry.