The short answer
An ordinary disposable paper coffee cup goes in general waste. A cup certified compostable can go in the food-waste bin. A paper appearance alone does not make a cup recyclable.
Checked 7 October 2026 by BinDay against the sources below. This guide covers the Republic of Ireland; bin colours and collector instructions can differ.
What to do
- Look for compostable certification on the cup.
- Check the lid separately; a compostable cup does not mean its lid is compostable.
- MyWaste advises recycling clean, dry lids and cardboard sleeves separately.
Common mistake to avoid
Do not put an ordinary lined cup in household recycling. A reusable cup avoids this mixed-material disposal problem.
Sources and local checks
For a collection point, check what it accepts before travelling. For household-bin instructions, find your collector. How BinDay checks sources and corrects mistakes.