Environmental impact of non-degradable coffee cups

When looking at rubbish or trash it normally falls into two different categories, which are either biodegradable or non-biodegradable. So what is the difference? Biodegradable is when waste will eventually break down and become part of the soil and earth. This is normally things such as paper and food scraps the will decompose. Non – biodegradable waste is completely the opposite, it’s when the waste will not break down or it won’t break down for many years. Some examples of Non-biodegradable products are metals, glass and plastics.

Non-biodegradable products can have a huge negative effect on the environment and is becoming a major growing concern to all environmentalists and our population. If they are used once disposed of they can have long-lasting effects on landfills, and can contaminate the ground water from toxic pollutants, from materials such as plastics.

As we become more technologically advanced as a society we are able to produce new materials that can be more eco friendly and more biodegradable. If this was done to products such as coffee cups the environment will become that much better off. 
There are thousands of coffees bought in just Melbourne alone each day; the amount of coffee cups that would be thrown away would be tremendous. If each coffee cup was degradable the pollution that would impact the environment would be minimized significantly as there are thousands of cups being thrown out each day.

All hope is not lost; prevention of accumulation of the non-biodegradable waste is on the rise especially in coffee cups. There are businesses out there that are now starting to develop the businesses to look after the society and provide biodegradable cups. This will reduce waste and pollution and increase recycling. The impact of non degradable coffee cups are on the verge to becoming extinct once customers and providers become more aware the need for them will be no more.