THE Australian Pensioners and Superannuants League Queensland is mounting its own war on waste campaign, encouraging seniors to change their coffee-to-go habits as a first step.
Disposable coffee cups are the second biggest litter item after plastic bottles in Australia, with about a billion caffeine hits on the run quickly ending up in garbage.
“Few takeaway coffee cups are truly recyclable or compostable because of a thin plastic liner and the hard plastic lid,” said league president Cherith Weis, who has taken to carrying a reusable travel mug wherever she goes.
“They’re in our landfill and not breaking down.
“I have great-grandchildren coming along and I want them to have a better life and a cleaner world. We seniors can make a difference, one cuppa at a time.”
Cherith shares these tips:
- Don’t take away. Enjoy your beverage sitting in the cafe, sipping from a ceramic cup.
- Carry a reusable mug.
- Some coffee shops now store regular customers’ own mugs on their shelves.
- Encourage your cafe to use cups made from renewable resources.
- Refuse a lid to your takeaway cup if you don’t really need that plastic sipper.
The Senior will explore ways older people are declaring their own war on waste in coming editions. Share your tips with us – email edit@thesenior.com.au or write to The Senior, PO Box 130, Wyong NSW 2259.
