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I admit it. I’ve bought a fancy hot beverage in a disposable cup on the past year. Won over by a serious caffeine craving and unprepared to meet it with one of my reuseable mugs, I’ve succumbed. And the cups I used? I put them in with the paper recycling, which seems logical, but actually, those cups are not usually recyclable.

Very few of the waxed paper cups used by Tim Horton’s, Starbucks (3 billion last year, apparently), Second Cup, Timothy’s, Coffee Time and cute little independent cafes anywhere are. Biodegradeable? Perhaps. Made with recycled materials? If you’re lucky. Recyclable, into stuff like egg cartons or newsprint? Unlikely. Most municipal recycling programs cannot handle the disposable coffee cup. Those that can, in theory, often have trouble when we don’t separate the plastic lid from the paper cup.

To me, even if the cups were recyclable, they’re still instant waste. (OK, five-minute waste.) That’s really what makes me feel guilty, and why, on most occasions, I haven’t succumbed to coffee treat temptation.

My solution? Carry a mug, and use it. Clip one to your purse, your belt, your bike, whatever — just take it everywhere. (And collect the small discount many coffee shops offer!) To avoid a drippy, messy mug I recommend packing a small wash cloth in it, so you can clean your mug and sop up those last few drops. I have a nice I Am Not a Paper Cup for weekend outings, and a stainless-steel mug I keep at the office for workday outings and staff events.

Another idea: If you have time to enjoy your beverage in the cafe, then ask for a cup “for here,” since some places, like the Java Joes in the building where I work, will find you a mug if you ask for one. I’ll drink to that!

Does your local coffee shop seem waste conscious?

I’ve long been a fan of Bodum’s double-walled glassware. Foregoing ceramic mugs, my partner and I have a cupboard crammed with elegant double-walled glasses in a few shapes and sizes. Why? They keep things hot, they keep things cold, they don’t require coasters as there’s no condensation. And they look nice. I would also say that glass is an environmentally friendly material, being recyclable and free of hazardous chemicals.

Recently a friend sent me a fab gift: this double-walled glass bottle made by Anchor. It’s just what I’ve been looking for, like my Bodum glasses, but for on the go! Large enough for a big latté and versatile enough to carry any kind of hot or cold beverage, the lid has a silicone closure. I’m not sure what kind of plastic the rest of the top is made with, but it feels like (BPA-free) polypropylene. I’ll write to Anchor and see if I can find out for sure. The website says that most of their products are still made in the US, in Columbus, Ohio.

I’ve noticed that many coffee shops have in-store ads suggesting that their patrons bring their own drinkware. Even Starbucks, maker of the iconic white cup, has posters in their stores, though they report that only 1.3 per cent of their customers bring their own mugs. So that’s the trick. We have some great options for coffee on the go, we just have to remember to bring our mugs, jugs, bottles and cups. You know, in our reuseable bags!