Veolia and Defence join together to eliminate single-use disposable cups

Veolia, in partnership with Army & Air Force Canteen Service (AAFCANS) has launched a trial of the RecycleMe™ coffee cup at RAAF Williamtown, in NSW’s Hunter region.

Everyday hot beverage consumption by Department of Defence employees generates high demand for single use disposable cups, with an estimated 130,000 items disposed of annually at Williamtown. Working in partnership with Defence to identify and eliminate problematic waste streams such as coffee cups helps Defence make significant gains towards their ‘War on Waste’.

As part of the trial, AAFCANS will be supplying 2,500 RecycleMe™ cups to the base per week, with Veolia installing six coffee cup recycling stations. Detpak will supply the innovative RecycleMe™ cups, which have a mineral-based lining allowing them to be recycled within existing infrastructure. The recovered paper fibres can then live again as other paper products. 

 Dale Manley, Veolia’s National Contract Manager - Defence commented on the trial, “Defence is committed to minimising their carbon footprint through reducing waste-to-landfill and the associated emissions.” “As we focus our solutions on problematic waste streams such as coffee cups, which contribute to significant waste volume across Defence locations, the RecycleMe™ trial will deliver the desired sustainability outcome that Defence is seeking from its Waste and Sustainable Procurement Program, whilst also delivering potential cost-savings; which is a win-win.”

The trial launched on the 8th of February, and all impacts will be reported in near-real time to Defence via Veolia’s recently launched environmental reporting platform. These results will then determine future roll-out of the trial across further Defence locations.

Learn more about RecycleMe™ cups here

As we focus our solutions on problematic waste streams such as coffee cups, which contribute to significant waste volume across Defence locations, the RecycleMe™ trial will deliver the desired sustainability outcome that Defence is seeking from its Waste and Sustainable Procurement Program, whilst also delivering potential cost-savings; which is a win-win.
Dale Manley
Veolia National Contract Manager - Defence