I don't normally use this blog as a platform to vent my grievances but I feel obliged to today. Maybe I'm making a mountain out of a mole hill and because yesterday was Earth Day but for some reason, it REALLY bothers me when people double-cup. Let me explain.
This morning, I was at a local Dunkin' Donuts to get my fried/sweet fix for the day and the young woman in front of me ordered an ice coffee, which was handed to her in a plastic cup. She then asked for a Styrofoam cup (which the cashier gave freely) and proceeded to place the plastic cup inside the Styrofoam one before leaving the shop with ice coffee in hand. Maybe this woman wanted her coffee to stay chilled longer or the plastic cup alone was too cold for her delicate hands to carry...who knows? All I could think of was how incredibly wasteful this is. If this woman purchases her morning ice coffee this way 5 days a week, that's 260 unused Styrofoam cups wasted every year!
The first time I witnessed this double-cupping phenomenon was when I worked at a small coffee shop during my college years. I remember thinking how absurd the request was and how annoyed the customer looked when I responded bluntly, "Why?". Eventually, I convinced the owner to charge extra for double-cupping but if I had it my way, it would have been banned all together.
It's not in my nature to criticize a stranger openly in public, so instead I've been fuming about this in my head all morning long. All I know is that WE ALL waste and can surely cut down on the huge amount of trash we leave behind in this world. What this woman does with her coffee is utterly stupid and unnecessary. So please, just say "No" to double-cupping!
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Thomas, I am with you as we were not reared in that manner. We have become such a wasteful society (wrote about that earlier) and think nothing about it. It grates on my nerves too when I see what people buy - accumulate - throw away - waste - destroy without any thought (other than of themselves).
ReplyDeleteAgreed. I bring my own cup. I can counter one double cupper by being a no cupper.
ReplyDeleteWhy not just bring your own refillable thermos cup? The coffee/drink stays hot/cold and there's nothing to throw away.
ReplyDeleteI use plastic cups for my seedlings, when they have to be potted up to a larger container. Mr. H laughs at me when I use a Mr. Clean eraser to scrub off the writing I've done with a Sharpie, then wash them in the dishwasher and store them for another year, but I'll be using the same cups for a third year next spring, and I've only broken and had to toss two of them in two years.
Very wasteful double cupper....that's just wrong...and styrofoam to boot...ugh.
ReplyDeleteDiana - I couldn't have said it better myself.
ReplyDeleteTurling - I'm with you. Fortunately, I'm a no-cupper by virtue of the fact that I don't drink coffee.
Gran - I would suggest that people buy reusable sleeves for their hot/cold beverages but a thermos is a no brainer. Or at least, she should just ask them to make the ice-coffee in the Styrofoam cup and spare the plastic one.
Sunny - ugh is right.
I have never heard of this! OMG, I can't even believe they still have styrofoam cups either! This is why I have my own espresso machine, to keep me out of the local shops since every time I go I get mad. It's either the person in front of me who "can't decide" and orders an espresso drink and proceeds to cover up all essence of coffee with stupid syrups or the women I saw last time that were pointing and the latest celebrity gossip on the newspaper and ignoring the big "death toll" headline for the war (I have a brother there)... now this! You are rightfully upset...
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely amazing!!! Our society has become so so wasteful.....just throw it away and get a new one!
ReplyDeleteWith the "BIG BE GREEN" going on. One would think that people and businesses would try to stop so much waste. Oh no!! Instead more and more products are throw away and pre-packaged!
I could go on and on....most people just pretend to be green.
i'm with you, thomas. i see waste all around me, and wonder at how ignorant folks can be. but i also know that i am always thinking of/hearing of/trying new ways to be greener...it's an ongoing process.
ReplyDeletehave a good weekend, hope you have time in the garden!
My husband and I got to to a coffee house every Friday night after going out to eat (date night for us). What annoys me is the people that drink their coffee there but don't as for "coffee for here", which means a real cup that needs to be washed, but nothing is thrown away. I just don't understand it. The coffee is better in a real cup (at least if you get foamed lattes like we do). So why does everyone drink it in a paper cup? So wasteful.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Thomas. We rarely ever used the cup cozies, and now we've started bringing our own mugs--DS loves having his special hot chocolate in his mug from home too.
ReplyDeleteDH gave me big eye rolls when he found out I ask our son to bring home his plastic forks/spoons so I can wash & put them back in his lunch. I'm not going to risk him losing my silverware, but I'm not going to blow through plasticware either. Besides, I'm teaching our 8yo not to waste.
It's the little things like cups and forks that add up. WE are the ones who are going to change it--one person, one child at a time. Not big corporations who think on the cheap and not on the environment, so good for you for speaking up about this frustration. It's important.
I went to a DD the other day for a cold drink and was given a double cup - without even asking for it!!
ReplyDeleteNina
Right on everyone! I'm glad I'm not the only one who is tortured by this!
ReplyDeleteHow I loath styrofoam! I'm not sure what will be the catalyst for our society to stop consuming and wasting so much. I guess it has to be cost prohibitive to fix things.
ReplyDeleteStyrofoam is not radioactive and has no half life, which means it NEVER biodegrades. I can't believe we continue to manufacture the stuff. Every cup, packing peanut, take-out container, etc. will be here on earth forever. I've had a personal ban on it for at least 10 years.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on this! Around here most of the DDs just do it automatically. I wish they'd just do away with the styrofoam altogether. I keep emailing every company that uses the stuff, maybe if enough people complain, they'll stop using it.
ReplyDeleteBesides styrofoam cups, the thing that drives me insane is plastic trash liners that get changed when there is only a single, small piece of waste hiding in the bottom. So, here's my confession....I work at a school and my office is secluded upstairs next to a tiny faculty kitchen that hardly ever gets used. I always check it and combine my office trash (if I even have something that I can't recycle) and the kitchen trash into the neighboring bathroom trash can (which does get used) so that only one bag will get tossed by the cleaning crew. I got caught once and laughed at but I still continue to obey my conscience.
ReplyDeleteJohanne
I agree. That is incredibly aggravating. Just make sure to give them dirty annoyed stares. :)
ReplyDeleteI agree! Say yes to bringing one's own cup!!!
ReplyDeleteAhh, I have to admit that I used to be a big fan of double cupping and sleeving to protect my all too sensitive hands. Then I found the nifty Umbra Handisleeve. It's light and brightly coloured, perfect for travelling and people who constantly rummage through their bags to find things. I highly recommend it, and I'll stop now because I feel like an advertisement. Really, it's awesome :) people will be looking!
ReplyDeleteDD down here does the double cup thing automatically. It does help your iced coffee stay colder, but I am really not liking styrofoam anything these days either.
ReplyDeleteWe generally brew and cup-up at home these days. The initial investment was high (buying a cupboard full of travel cups for iced coffee), but at least we know our coffee will taste good. Taste and savings were our motivation, but the lack of trash being generated is certainly a bonus!