Dayton coffee shop ditches plastic-lined paper cups and plastic straws for new ‘no-waste’ system

Effort expected to save 80,000 to 100,000 plastic utensils, plastic-lined paper cups, lids and straws from landfills annually.

Credit: Submitted: Ghostlight Coffee

Credit: Submitted: Ghostlight Coffee

Shane Anderson simply doesn't see the good of throwing out good coffee cups.

>> Daytonians of the Week: Shane Anderson and Lezley Pisone

That is part of the reason the owner of Ghostlight Coffee — one of Dayton’s most popular coffee shops —  has introduced a new strategy to reduce the waste that leaves his business.

>> Best of Dayton 2017 winners: Food & Dining

The business located at 1201 Wayne Ave. in Dayton’s South Park neighborhood has partnered with GoZERO, a local food waste compost service, and GreenSpeed Products, a Dayton-based company that provides  eco-friendly alternatives to oil-based disposable products, to create a “no-waste coffee shop experience.”

>> RELATED: Here is why this popular Dayton coffee shop is launched a food truck

The system includes a color-coded bin system: a blue bin for recycling, green bin for composting and a black bin for landfill trash.

GreenSpeed provides the compostable hot and cold beverage cups, plates and utensils. GoZERO will compost the waste.

“It just doesn’t make sense to keep putting those non-compostable items in landfills, Anderson said.

Credit: Submitted: Ghostlight Coffee

Credit: Submitted: Ghostlight Coffee

>> 7 amazing things to do in downtown Dayton 

He estimates that that move will save 80,000 to 100,000 plastic utensils, plastic-lined paper cups, lids and straws from landfills annually.

Ghostlight also now sells reusable metal straws for $2 each and reusable hot and cold beverage tumblers for $10 each.

“The stainless steel straws have been a big hit,” Anderson said.

Reducing waste from the business will be a joint effort.

“This a full-blown cooperation between me as the owner, my staff and the community that comes in — the customers,” Anderson added.

The compostable cups will break down in home compost bins, but Anderson said the process will take longer than under GoZERO’s system.

>> Year after serious car accident, Miamisburg girl flies off to national leadership program

Credit: Submitted: Ghostlight Coffee

Credit: Submitted: Ghostlight Coffee

Credit: Submitted: Ghostlight Coffee

Credit: Submitted: Ghostlight Coffee

About the Author