On the face of it, coffee cups and ice cream tubs are basically the same thing, so why are they labelled so differently? The answer lies less in the material itself and more in the sheer volume of waste they create. Single-use coffee cups are everywhere, used in huge numbers every day and often thrown away on the go, making them a major source of litter and contamination in recycling systems. Because they are so prevalent, the paper and recycling industries have pushed for them to be treated under separate rules, rather than grouped with other paper containers. Ice cream tubs, used less frequently and disposed of more predictably at home, are more easily managed within existing recycling streams. So the difference in labelling is as much about scale and waste management policy as it is about what the packaging is made from.

This episode of Recycled Content, is the 'Rubbish Question' from episode 41 of Talking Rubbish, which first aired on 8th May 2025.

While every effort has been made to provide the most accurate information, recycling guidance changes quickly and some advice may become outdated over time. Always check with your local council for the rules that apply to recycling in your area. On the main Talking Rubbish podcast, we include an additions and corrections section where we update anything we may have got wrong.

These clips come from the weekly show, Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast

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