Wax-coated Cardboard & Aluminum Soapbox

[da]

Walking back from lunch at the University Plaza, elbie_at_trig & I counted about half a dozen Tim Hortons cups and at least that many pop cans.

Now, I know the Tims cups have a wax/plastic lining, so recycling probably isn't cost effective (though I seem to remember that some western municipality, perhaps Vancouver(?) found the political will to recycle them anyhow). But can anybody explain why there isn't an aluminum can deposit in Ontario?

[Concerning Tims cups: I wonder how many people realize that the year-round discount for using one's own mug is considerably higher than the 1:9 odds of winning a free coffee or doughnut during the "Roll Up the Rim" month. That is, my mug rings in at "medium" but it's 20 oz. ...so, something like 2/3 a free medium in each cup. All things considered, I'd prefer they keep their empty cup, and I'll keep my mug.]

Comments

[kraig.livejournal.com]

Those sound like reasonable guesstimates.

I was wondering more about the environmental cost of production though - not money costs. My aluminium mug costs a hole in the ground and everything else associated with mining. Glass or plastic are different but the same, particularly the latter. Metal used in the production of my mug can't be used for something else; with a paper cup (plastic coating aside) you can always replant the tree.

Recycling is a whole 'nother thing: I'm not convinced that it's always The Best Thing To Do, although that's more borne of my suspicion of "golden bullet" solutions than any actual hard data.

I've no doubt that over a time period of sufficient length that Al or plastic cups, or china mugs, are more friendly than continually using new paper cups - but how long does that time period need to be?