Paper Cup Recycling Now Accepted in Tompkins County

Ithaca.com (07/17/26) Banda, Kaeleigh

Paper cups are now accepted for curbside recycling in New York's Tompkins County thanks to updated guidelines that went into effect July 1. The Tompkins County Department of Recycling and Materials Management released its 2026-27 curbside recycling guide, which promotes sustainable education by sharing various ways the community can reduce, reuse, recycle, and rethink waste. Before this update, paper cups were excluded from recycling due to the fact that the thin plastic lining that is added to the cup to prevent leaks was very hard to separate from the paper. However, a technology advancement has since made possible the removal of the lining, meaning the paper fiber can be recovered. Moving forward, paper cups will be processed along with mixed paper and then recycled into something new.

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