Recycle Right

Use my Cup

A Simple Habit with a Powerful Impact

💡 What to Do
Encourage students to bring and use their own reusable cups instead of disposable foam or paper cups.
 Activities can include:
Tracking cup use for one week with a class chart
Poster-making or PSA videos promoting the habit
Designing their own reusable cup art or slogan
Hosting a “No Disposable Cup” challenge day at school

🌍 Why It Matters
Disposable cups might seem harmless, but they come at a big cost:
Billions of cups are thrown away each year after just one use
Most are not recyclable due to plastic linings or foam materials
They contribute to landfill overflow, ocean pollution, and energy waste
By using a personal cup, each student can prevent hundreds of disposable cups from being used each year — saving trees, reducing emissions, and cutting plastic waste.

🔬 The Science Behind It
Paper cups are lined with plastic, making them nearly impossible to recycle
Foam cups (made of polystyrene) take centuries to break down and release harmful microplastics into the environment
Producing a single disposable cup uses water, trees, fossil fuels, and energy, which are wasted after one use
Reusable cups, when used consistently, offset their production impact within 10–20 uses

📚 Learning Objectives
Students will:
Understand the environmental impact of disposable products
Learn how small behavior changes can lead to system-wide improvements
Gain experience in advocacy, communication, and sustainability habits