​NH DES: Take Your Coffee Green

CONCORD, NH — Unless you are one of the lucky ones who can make it through the day without caffeine, many people have a daily coffee habit. In fact, according to the Harvard School of Public Health, more than half of Americans – 54 percent to be exact – over the age of 18 drink coffee daily. While coffee (in moderation) isn’t bad for you – in fact, the beverage has many health benefits – it can have harmful effects on the environment. Luckily, there are ways to be a more eco-friendly coffee consumer.

Buy In Bulk

Buying coffee in bulk as opposed to single pod servings will not only save you money, but it will also prevent unrecyclable plastic waste from ending up in landfills or oceans. Believe it or not, a pound of K-cups costs, on average, $50, while a pound bag of coffee grounds can range anywhere from $8.99 to $11.95, according to the New York Times.Fear not – you don’t have to abandon your single-cup coffee maker by eliminating the use of K-cups. You can purchase filters for single coffee cup makers that allow you to use coffee grounds instead of a pod.

Repurpose Your K-Cups

If you do use K-cups, a good way to prevent them from going into a landfill is by repurposing or reusing them. The small plastic cups make great seed starters, craft supply organizers, individual paint holders for art projects, and homemade mini Popsicle molds.

Compost Coffee Grounds

Instead of dumping your excess coffee grounds into the trash, toss them into the compost bin! Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen. You can also add your coffee filter to the compost bin to balance out the green and brown compost ratio. Don’t have a compost bin? Throw the used coffee grounds right into your garden for a nutrient-rich fertilizer.

Bring Your Own Mug

Do you have a habit of buying your morning coffee? Be a little greener by bringing your own tumbler or reusable mug to the coffee shop. Not only will you be less wasteful, but you may even get a discount on your coffee for your eco-friendly efforts. For instance, Starbucks rewards customers for bringing in their own mug by giving them 10 cents off of their coffee purchase. Ask your favorite coffee shop if they give discounts for bringing reusable mugs; even if they don’t, you will be rewarded with the satisfaction of knowing that you are practicing sustainability.

Believe it or not, you can minimize the amount of waste going into landfills one coffee cup at a time. How do you make your coffee habit sustainable? Share your ideas with us, and tweet us @NHDES

Submitted by Jana Ford. Image via Shutterstock.