Turning Coffee Cups into Harvests: HKUST and Waste Wise Hong Kong Launch ‘Cup to Compost’ Pilot at Campus Starbucks
As part of the HKUST ongoing commitment to campus sustainability and waste reduction, the university has launched the Cup to Compost pilot programme at the campus Starbucks outlet. Developed in partnership with Waste Wise Hong Kong, this initiative ensures used paper coffee cups are diverted from landfills and transformed into valuable compost for local agriculture.
Since its launch in mid-March, the pilot programme has achieved remarkable participation, collecting over 16,000 cups in a five-month period.
How the Program Works
Addressing coffee cup waste effectively relies on proper source separation. To support clean sorting, dedicated collection frames have been set up in the campus store, encouraging students, faculty, and staff to take four quick steps before discarding their cup:
- Dispose of Remaining Liquid: Empty any leftover ice or drink into the liquid collection sink.
- Separate Components: Remove and separate plastic lids, stirrers and paper sleeves into designated bins to minimize contamination.
- Stack Used Cups: Drop the empty paper cups into the dedicated cup collection frame.
- Compost & Donate: Waste Wise Hong Kong collects the cup materials, processes them, and converts them into organic compost.
Supporting Local Agriculture & Circular Economy
Rather than sending single-use items to landfills, the Cup to Compost initiative creates a tangible circular loop. The compost produced from collected campus coffee cups is donated directly to local farmers, helping enrich soil, support sustainable food production, and boost local agriculture across Hong Kong communities.
Martijn Ros, Co-founder of Waste Wise Hong Kong shared, “The Cup to Compost programme has been a great example of what can happen when sustainability moves beyond ideas and into everyday action. Working with HKUST has allowed us to test the programme in a real campus environment and demonstrate how something as simple as returning a used cup can become part of a measurable circular system. Technology and infrastructure are important, but participation is just as critical. It has been incredibly encouraging to see students, staff, and campus partners contribute directly to meaningful waste diversion through their everyday choices. HKUST has been an ideal partner because of its willingness to experiment with new sustainability programmes and turn ideas into practical action. The pilot has given us the opportunity not only to divert compostable cups from disposal, but also to better understand user behaviour, collect real-world data, and identify how the system can be improved and scaled. 非常感謝負責清潔工作的阿姨們，她們的支持和付出對計劃的成功至關重要。”
Program Impact at a Glance
- 16,000+ Cups Collected: Diverted from waste streams within 5 months of launching.
- Campus Engagement: Active participation from students and staff in mindful sorting as well as strong support from cleaners working at the outlet.
- Community Benefit: Direct contribution to local farms and soil restoration.
The strong initial response demonstrates how everyday choices on campus can drive meaningful environmental impact. HKUST and Waste Wise Hong Kong will continue to evaluate the program's progress and explore further campus circularity initiatives.
