Environmental advocates have criticized Starbucks for allegedly overstating the recyclability of its plastic cups, following a recent investigation that found no evidence of the cups actually being recycled. The Vermont-based nonprofit group Beyond Plastics conducted the inquiry by placing 69 Bluetooth-enabled trackers inside Starbucks recycling bins at various locations. According to the group’s findings, the majority of these cups ended up in landfills or incineration facilities, rather than being processed for recycling.

Of the 47 trackers that transmitted data, 23 were traced to landfills and 11 to incinerators. Another 10 were last recorded at waste transfer stations, which typically serve as interim stops before landfill disposal. Only three trackers reached material recovery facilities, where plastics are sorted for potential recycling. However, Beyond Plastics stated it could not confirm that any of the tracked cups were ultimately recycled.

Judith Enck, president of Beyond Plastics and a former regional administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, expressed concern over the transparency of Starbucks’ waste management. She noted the discrepancy between consumers’ efforts to recycle and the lack of clarity regarding the final destination of the cups.

In response to the investigation, environmental activists announced plans for nine protests across New York, including in Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan. Demonstrators are urging Starbucks to cease what they describe as misleading statements about its recycling practices. The group is also calling on lawmakers to enact the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act, which would mandate that companies reduce plastic packaging use and compensate municipalities for waste management expenses.

Starbucks has committed to making all customer packaging reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2030 and began permitting customers in the United States to use their own reusable cups for mobile and drive-through orders in 2024. Beyond Plastics estimates the company distributes approximately eight million plastic cups daily, based on Starbucks’ publicly available data.

A Starbucks spokesperson disputed the validity of the investigation’s methodology but did not provide detailed comments on the findings. The company’s position on recycling rates and efforts to meet sustainability targets remains under scrutiny as the debate over corporate responsibility in environmental practices continues.