apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Do you have a cash and carry or gordon food service nearby? Anything that sells bulk food.

Your friendly regional Costco should sell them by the gross.

This summer, the Starbucks near me was selling re-usable tumblers that were styled to look like their cold drink cups: clear, tapered, *screw-on* flat lid, green straw and the mermaid logo. I think I paid about $15 for mine, but they're getting to be hard to find; maybe Starbucks will take the hint that folks want 'em and make more? You may get dirty looks if you bring it in to your local coffeehouse for an iced beverage, but it's less trash in the landfill and you can always use it to carry homemade drinks- I use mine for iced coffee, water, tea and sometimes even rootbeer floats. If snobby baristas give you lip, just stick a funky sticker over the mermaid!

The problem with compostable cups is that, unless you compost them, they still add to the landfills. As I'm sure you're aware, trash goes to the landfill and is then covered with a layer of dirt. Since there is no available oxygen, nothing biodegradable actually degrades.

i do the same thing with making batches of hot coffee and refrigerating it. i LOVE me some iced coffee!

I make iced tea and chai at home and bring it to work in a jar. I just drink from it with the lid off, but I imagine it wouldn't be too hard to put a straw hole in the lid if one was so inclined?

You can get biodegradable ones here: http://www.mrtakeoutbags.com/store/cold-drink-cups.html

but i think they only sell in bulk,

or here:
http://www.ecowise.com/product_info.php?products_id=566

but that's biodegradable plastic (?), not corn based

google around.

I have this cup that Starbucks makes. It looks exactly like the iced cup with a green straw. It's insulated and holds about 16 oz. I love it. I always carry a hot to go cup and now an iced to go cup, so my coffee habit is now a little bit greener.

I use a Kleen Kanteen for iced coffee. Super lightweight and much more portable in a bag than a to go cup. A quick rinse and it's ready to go again. http://www.kleankanteen.com/

You can go to your local gas station and get the plastic cups. Like quick trip, or kum n go, 7-11 or whatever the convenience store name is where you live and they will sell you the empty cup with a lid for a dime! You can get what you need without buying 100 at a time because if you are like me there is not that much storage space in my little house. plus they are recyclable if possible or if you wind up taking it home they are durable to wash in the dishwasher.

organic mom

http://www.starbucksstore.com/products/shprodde.asp?SKU=672849

a new bpa-free nalgene or something just won't cut it?

I just use my insulated cup, like I would for a hot drink. An insulated cup keeps your beverage either hot or cold, depending on how it started out. Easy and green.

I'd make friends with someone at your local coffee place and see if they'll sell you a sleeve of theirs. I used to buy sleeves from a restaurant where I worked. I know that's a little more of an "in" but they've got whole boxes of them. And then you don't have to store a gross of cups and lids.

i have iced coffee every morning, too - i bring mine in a jar. if you need the straw you can just punch a hole in the top, or a little sip-hole if you like to swig.

i find that when i go get my coffee at the coffee shop it's a great conversation starter, and people seem really into the DIY factor of it.

biodegradable cups are great and all for when you are out and about and want to pick something up, but they should be for the stores that actually are selling products. you should have the presence of mind to bring something that you don't have to throw away after you've only used it once - even if it is 'green'.