Utrecht University has decided to remove disposable cups from all coffee machines from 1 November. Specifically, this means that disposable cups will no longer come out of the coffee machines in the university’s buildings. This measure anticipates the new regulations and supports Utrecht University’s ambition to reduce our amount of waste.
Ceramic and hard plastic alternatives
The removal of disposable cups from the vending machines will start on 1 November and be completed on 6 November. From then on, reusable cups can be used in office areas and can be found in the pantries. Supplies will be supplemented with ceramic cups where necessary.
In the vending machines found in educational buildings and public areas, Maas replaces the disposable cups in the vending machine with a hard plastic storage cup. This cup can be selected as an option before making a choice of drink and costs one euro extra.
Bring your own!
Of course, you can also use your own cup or a Billy Cup at the vending machine. Haven’t got a reusable cup to bring to work or college yet? Then the Utrecht University Circular Cup might be for you! The Circular Cup is the world’s first sustainable reusable to-go cup made from recycled coffee cups. The ultimate tea or coffee cup for on the go. You can easily order the cup in our Utrecht University Store. The cup is also available from today at the sales points in the Administration Building and the Academy Building.
As of 1 January 2024, issuing Single Use Plastic packaging, including disposable coffee cups, is no longer allowed by law. In addition, UU has the ambition to landfill or incinerate 50% less residual waste by 2026 and to have Zero Waste operations by 2030. As many disposable cups end up in residual waste, this change also contributes to UU’s sustainability ambition. UU’s goals and the legal requirement have resulted in SUP cups being removed from the range from 1 November.
There are several options for buying a reusable cup at the UU campus:
- Coffee machine: hard plastic storage cup
- Billiecup: restaurants Eurest
- Circular & Co cup: UU store and the receptions Bestuursgebouw and Academiegebouw
The hard plastic storage cup costs ¤1 and comes from the coffee machine. The coffee machine prompts if you have your own cup or want a hard cup.
The Billiecup costs ¤1.00 and comes in different sizes. A lid is also available for an extra ¤1.00.
The Circular & Co cup is available in 1 size.
The hard plastic storage cup should be disposed of at PD (plastics and drink cartons).
- Trade it in at an Eurest restaurant for a new Billie cup or
- Turn it in when making a purchase at an Eurest restaurant to get a ¤1.00 discount
f you are in an educational environment, when you take a cup of coffee, the machine asks whether you have your own cup or want a hard plastic storage cup. Through a sensor, the machine sees the cup. However, there are three exceptions that the machine does not see as well:
- Reusable cups with a black or dark brown colour
- Reusable cups made of steel
- Glass
We therefore recommend getting a reusable cup that does not have the above characteristics, so you can be sure to have a cup of coffee. Should this still not work, the sensor may not be working optimally. In that case, when the machine displays an error message, try pressing ’skip’. You can then try again. If this still doesn’t work, make a report in Topdesk.
You can clean your reusable mug in the toilet in educational environments. Ceramic mugs can be cleaned in the pantries’ sinks and dishwashers in staff environments.
At MAAS’s luxury coffee machines (the larger coffee stations), the disposable cups will remain temporarily. This is because MAAS wants to collect data on their use. By 1 January 2024, these cups will also be taken away.