Singapore diner questions switch from glass mugs to ‘recyclable’ plastic cups for dine-in at local coffeeshops
A Singapore diner has sparked debate online after noticing that some local coffeeshops appear to be replacing traditional glass mugs with “recyclable” plastic cups for cold drinks.
The observation was shared on the Facebook page Complaint Singapore on Sunday (15 Feb), with the Original Poster (OP) questioning the logic behind the switch.
Iced coffee price allegedly rises alongside cup change
In the post, the OP pointed out that iced coffee previously served in glass mugs cost S$1.80.
However, the same drink now reportedly costs S$2 for a small and S$2.30 for a large when served in plastic cups.
Source: Complaint Singapore on Facebook
The OP suggested that the move towards plastic tumblers may have contributed to the price increase.
“I wonder how is it actually saving the environment”, the OP questioned.
Doubts over environmental benefits of PP plastic
The OP claimed that some coffee shop operators, including Kimly, have begun using plastic tumblers labelled as recyclable.
These cups are typically made from polypropylene (PP plastic), also known as PP5.
While PP can technically be recycled, the OP questioned whether it is truly environmentally friendly.
Source: Complaint Singapore on Facebook
In the post, the OP said that PP5 is slow to break down naturally and can persist “in landfills and ecosystems for hundreds of years”.
