Cups & Lids

Wholesale Cups & Lids

CleanItSupply.com - the online leader in wholesale janitorial and cleaning products, offers a wide variety of Food Service Restaurant Supplies, including Disposable Cups and Lids. Our wholesale cups and lids are an ideal choice for restaurants, cafeterias, parties, festivals, as well as residential kitchens and homes. Our wide selection of quality, name brand disposable cups and lids offer a durable, and trusted reliability, each and every time, regardless of the environment. All of our eco-friendly and environmentally conscious cup and lid models offer a simple, clean, and sturdy design that are always up to the task; whether it's a small family barbecue, or a large scale restaurant, we have the paper and plastic cups with lids to fit your individual needs. Lightweight and recyclable, each of our cups are designed to never break or leak before, during, or after typical use. All of our quality cups and lids are completely user friendly, and ideal for a wide variety of environments and applications.

What are disposable cups made out of?

“A paper cup is a disposable cup made out of paper and often lined or coated with plastic or wax to prevent liquid from leaking out or soaking through the paper. It may be made of recycled paper and is widely used around the world,” states Wikipedia.

What is the history of the paper cup?

According to Wikipedia, “paper cups have been documented in imperial China, where paper was invented by 2nd century BC. Paper cups were known as chih pei and were used for the serving of tea. They were constructed in different sizes and colors, and were adorned with decorative designs. Textual evidence of paper cups appears in a description of the possessions of the Yu family, from the city of Hangzhou.”

Since then paper cups had gone through some modernization during the 20th century. The Dixie disposable cup had been invented in 1908, but not widely used yet. In those times it was not uncommon for people to have shared glasses not only in schools at the water faucets, but also at water barrels on trains, causing health concerns among the public. A study by a biology professor at Layfayette College named Alvin Davison, published his findings titled "Death in School Drinking Cups" in Technical World Magazine in August of 1908. His research was based on studies carried out in Easton, Pennsylvania's public schools. The Massachusetts State Board of Health reprinted and circulated this study in November of 1909.

Because of Davison’s findings, paper goods including paper cups, became more affordable and widely available while local bans against the shared-use glass cup actually came into effect. Lackawanna Railroad began using the disposable paper cups in 1909 and other railways followed suit even before banning was passed in their jurisdiction. By 1917, all shared-glass cups disappeared from railway carriages and replaced by the more sanitary, disposable paper cup.

“Paper cups are also employed in hospitals for health reasons. In 1942 the Massachusetts State College found in one study that the cost of using washable glasses, re-used after being sanitized, was 1.6 times the cost of using single-service paper cups. These studies, as well as the reduction in the risk of cross-infection, encouraged the use of paper cups in hospitals,” added Wikipedia.

Are paper cups biodegradable?

CHOICE.com, a leading Australian-based consumer advocacy group says, “Paper-based cups are usually lined with a membrane of polyethylene (plastic) to make them waterproof, but it means they are not recyclable alongside paper or cardboard, or biodegradable. There are many hybrid varieties of coffee cup on the market including wax-coated cups (like milk cartons) and 'biodegradable' cups. But Dave West, National Policy Director of the Boomerang Alliance in Australia, says that without clear labelling, most people and recycling facilities can't distinguish which cups can be processed and recycled with the cardboard and paper recycling. As for the cups that are labelled biodegradable, Tim Silverwood says, ‘Biodegradable cups don't compost in normal compost. It takes very specific industrial composting conditions, which are not available to the bulk of the population,’” reports choice.com. In summary, unless the paper cup is not lined with the polyethylene or wax to waterproof it, then no, it is not recyclable or biodegradable.

CHOICE.com then asked what would be the best solution would be to the coffee cup pile up happening right now? Obviously, giving up drinking coffee is not an option, so what is? Here are the suggestions from choice.com:

1. If you have some extra time, treat yourself to a cup of coffee in a real cup at the coffee shop
2. Use your own reusable cup
3. If you must use a disposable cup from a to-go establishment, the following can help:
a. Do not take the plastic lid
b. Request that they give you your coffee in a paperboard cup, when available, and remember to recycle that cardboard sleeve 
c. Place in the trash and not the recycle bin if not recyclable so not to contaminate recyclables

What are coffee cup lids made of?

Coffee cup lids are made of polystyrene also commonly known as plastic #6.

Are coffee cup lids recyclable?

Most of them are unable to be recycled unless your community accepts plastic #6, which many do not. The black plastic coffee cup lids are not recyclable, yet some non-black plastic coffee up lids may be recyclable, so be sure to check for the number in the recycle triangle to determine either way.

Are there biodegradable plastic cups?

Many biodegradable plastic cups are made from a plastic called polylactic acid or PLA. PLA is a polymer created from high levels of polylactic acid molecules. In order for PLA to biodegrade, the polymer must be broken down by adding water to it. This is a process called hydrolyzing. Wikipedia defines Hydrolyzing as being “a chemical process in which a molecule of water is added to a substance. Sometimes this addition causes both substance and water molecule to split into two parts. In such reactions, one fragment of the target molecule (or parent molecule) gains a hydrogen ion.”

Can you put a plastic cup in the microwave?

Never put anything in the microwave that does not clearly state on the product itself that it is microwave safe, especially plastic. It is always best to transfer food and drink out of the plastic container to something that is unquestionably safe for heating in a microwave oven. Furthermore, Harvard Health states, “Most takeout containers, water bottles, and plastic tubs or jars made to hold margarine, yogurt, whipped topping, and foods such as cream cheese, mayonnaise, and mustard are not microwave-safe. Microwavable takeout dinner trays are formulated for one-time use only and will say so on the package.”

From paper cups and lids, to plastic cups, we have the versatile variety to fit all of your industrial, residential, and commercial needs. Available for purchase 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, our quality, name brand, disposable cups and lids are available for you, whenever, and wherever you are. Call or Click today to purchase any of our high-quality, name brand, food service restaurant supplies, including our line of disposable plastic and paper cups and lids. Shop with us and save today!