A free reusable cup trial rolled out 12 months ago in Port Douglas has prevented more than 10,000 single-use cups and lids from entering landfill, according to Minister for the Environment and Tourism, Andrew Powell.
Six local cafés – Origin Espresso, The Surfy, Nourish, Toast Sandwich Bar, and Café Ziva – are currently participating in the program, named ‘Douglas Chooses to Reuse’.
Customers ask for their takeaway coffee in a reusable cup before returning it to any participating café or a dedicated return pod located somewhere around the town, with no sign-up or deposit needed.
Origin Espresso Owner, Neo Yang, says the response from the community to the bright blue cups has only been gaining in strength.
“It’s been great to see the program gradually becoming part of the Port Douglas community,” says Neo. “Many local cafés and businesses are taking part, and customers are happy to return the cups, which shows people really care about the town and the environment.
“Being part of the program has been a very positive experience. Customers have been supportive, and it’s helped start more conversations about sustainability in the community.”
The project has been spearheaded by Boomerang Alliance, a non-profit environmental coalition that comprises of more than 55 national, state, and local environmental groups.
Data from Sustainability Victoria states Australians use 4.4 million single-use coffee cups per day, which adds up to about 1.6 billion per year.
Boomerang Alliance Program Manager, Kellie Lindsay, says the program can be used as a benchmark for scaling reusable cup systems.
“One of our goals for this program was for the community to make it part of their everyday life, and we’re starting to see that happen now,” she says.
“It shows that people can and will use the system, and that it can be possible for other communities as well – and even a state-wide system. That’s something we’d love to see.
“It’s easy to feel powerless when thinking about the environment, but the truth is, you aren’t. Simply by choosing a reusable coffee cup each day, you can have a huge positive impact.”
