In the new trial, guests will be given the option of paying a C$4 deposit (plus tax) to get a reusable and returnable cup at one of ten participating Tim’s restaurants in Vancouver
Tim Hortons launches reusable and returnable cup pilot in Vancouver with Return-It. (Credit: CNW Group/Tim Hortons)
Restaurant chain Tim Hortons has partnered with Return-It, a not-for-profit organisation, to launch a new reusable and returnable cup pilot project in Vancouver, Canada to reduce single-use waste.
The project is based on a similar project that Tim Hortons launched last year in Ontario.
In the new trial, guests will be given the option of paying a C$4 deposit (plus tax) to get a reusable and returnable cup at one of ten participating Tim’s restaurants in Vancouver.
The restaurant chain said that the deposit will be returned to guests by e-transfer.
Guests can return their reusable cups to any of Tim’s restaurants or one of 11 other Return-It outlets across the city or from other brands.
Return-It will then collect single-use cups from the identified location to wash, sanitize and return them to Tim Hortons so that guests can use them again.
Both firms will assess a scalable solution for a reusable cup programme, as well as the practicality of a larger, permanent programme that will collect single-use cups for recycling.
Tim Hortons innovation and sustainability senior director Paul Yang said: “We’re excited to partner with Return-It on this pilot program as we work towards making all of our guest packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable.
“Tim Hortons has been testing a number of ways to scale reusable and returnable packaging systems, as well as increase the recyclability of single-use cups. Through this program with industry partners and the City of Vancouver, we hope to learn and develop innovative solutions for the future.”
Apart from this project, Tim Hortons is also collaborating with Return-It on a trial basis in British Columbia to encourage more recycling of paper and plastic single-use cups.
Return-It president & CEO John Nixon said: “We are excited to be working alongside Tim Hortons and our other partners to make a quantifiable difference in keeping single-use cups out of landfills and to provide consumers with a more convenient option for reusing cups.
“We’re always looking for innovative solutions that will improve recovery rates and benefit British Columbians and this program will hopefully act as a scalable template that can be rolled out in other communities.”