Is this a good idea or is it stupid?

Question

Our company uses approximatly 500 paper coffee cups a week. When employees start they are given a mug with the company logo on it. With all of the people losing or breaking their mugs paper coffee cups are being used more and more (I once saw a guy walking away from the kitchen with 3 paper cups with water in them). I was thinking about having a "mug drive" and having people bring their old (clean) coffee mugs so employees who constantly use paper cups will be able to get a "new" mug for daily use.

I just hate seeing people always taking a new cup when I know it is just going to be empty in a few minutes and end up in the trash (and eventually a landfill).

Any suggestions for the mugs that don't get chosen and used? I don't think mugs can be recycled so I would like to donate the extra ones, but I'm not sure who would want them.

Any other ideas for reducing our paper cup consumption will be helpful too.

Thanks!

Answer 1

absolutely a great idea...they only throw them away or they end up for a quarter in some junk garage sale.

Answer 2

1. Stop buying paper cups simple.

2. Donate the mugs and don’t worry about if they get used if there are no paper cups they will use the mugs.

3. just keep dishwasher soap by the sink so that they

can clean their mug.

Answer 3

it is a good idea if you have a way to wash the used mugs

the unused/unchosen mugs can go to the thrift store

Answer 4

Excellent idea. But can I suggest all the paper cups are collected and donated to a plant nursery? any gardeners in your office? here's how to recycle them: Wash the cups, punch holes in the bottom for drainage. You now have excellent plant pots for seedlings. They can be planted into the garden when plants are big enough, without removing from home made pot! They will bio degrade down, and worms eat paper as well veggies! (much better than plastic plant pots). But I think everyone should provide their own mug. We do where I work, and they become very attached to their owners! Good Luck with turning the office green!

Answer 5

My office doesn't provide paper cups. Most people have their own mug, or there's a few in the kitchenette cupboard. The cleaning staff runs the dishwasher nightly. I've never heard anyone complain about this.

Getting some community mugs from Good Will is a good idea, and supports the charity.

Don't insult your co-workers by trying to 'educate' them. You'll mostly just p-ss them off.

Answer 6

Well for those mugs that dont get used you could keep them stored in a cabnint (sp i cant spell!!!) or out in the open and lable it "mugs for those who have lost them" because eventually people are going to loose them again.  Great idea though!  I luv it!!!

Answer 7

Seen this before - stop buying paper cups - get the company to buy some hot/cold cups/mugs and issue them - ee looses the cup they they have to purchase a new one - you can give out "new" ones every year or so.  Howeve I think all of this would be TAX deducitble for the company -

Answer 8

Eat with your hands out of can.

Answer 9

Try to make more people more educated like sending mails now and then.., Really a great idea..

Answer 10

Start a worm farm.Collect cups for the worms to eat and put the extra soil in a garden,thats what i do.

Answer 11

There is the option to have a notice put up to recycle the paper cups and a container at work to place them in for someone to take them to a place to recycle. A memo with the suggestion to design paper cups with a message written on them to please be kind to The Environment and to recycle could be part of the company logo on the cups for the paper cups. The mugs could have a message Don't be a Mug why buy a Big Box Store Mug when you can get one here free. The idea a free table top selection of mugs.

Answer 12

I really think that is a great idea.  Hey a mug is a mug and why should everyone be making so much paper waste.  

I am not really sure if this is what your asking but if everyone brings in too many mugs and you need to get rid of some..... either save them so if others get broken you have more.. or, there are always re-sale shops you can donate them to.  I know there is a re-sale shop by me where all the proceeds go to a local battered women shelter to help with food and such for there family's.  Just a thought.. and good thinking!