Photo by Claire Gallagher

Prior to Starbucks, The Brew used Stone Creek Coffee.

The Brew will no longer use compostable cups in its locations across campus.

The cups’ supplier, Sodexo, announced it will discontinue all of the compostable cups and lids, after first implementing the “eco-friendly” products in the various Brew locations in early 2018.

The discontinuation comes after the company that hauls the university’s compost products, Compost Crusader, found a chemical in the compostable cups and lids that the state of Wisconsin will no longer accept to compost, according to Rick Arcuri, executive director of university business operations & auxiliary services.

Arcuri said he “does not know that it is one chemical (in the cups and lids) as much as it is the chemical make-up of the cups and lids,” in an email.

Although the cups will no longer be present at the Brew locations, Schroeder Hall will use the remaining ones.

“We plan on using them up,” Arcuri said. “That’s until they tell us that they won’t pick up those compostable cups anymore. But there will be a point where they will become recyclable and not compostable.”

“We wanted to keep them out of landfills,” Arcuri said of the reason the university started using compostable cups. “We wanted to be as responsible as we could with valuable resources.”

Having compostable cups on campus was not cheap either, Arcuri said. He said the university used a more expensive cup to compost.

Although having the compostable cups was the more expensive option, Arcuri further noted that the campus decided stay with them because it was the right thing to do.

After the university went away from compostable cups, the Brew implemented the fan-favorite Starbucks Coffee, according to Melanie Vianes who is the director of operations in retail and catering.The Brew previously used Stone Creek Coffee products for its drinks.

“Based on the surveys we do twice a year and consistent customer feedback, the students were looking for a consistent brand,” Vianes said. “Now, you’ll actually see a decrease in the price of products. … Students can now expect more efficiency and a variety of products.”

And so far, Maddi Sanchez, a freshman in the College of Health Sciences, said she enjoys Starbucks in the Brew.

“I drink coffee every day, and having Starbucks is a lot better,” Sanchez said. “It is better coffee, it is closer than the other Starbucks and it is cheaper, too.”

Although the Brew is losing its compostable cups and adding Starbucks, the overall atmosphere will remain one that is inviting and warm to students, Sanchez said.

“Being run by students, the atmosphere is geared toward college students, and I really appreciate the sense of community there,” Sanchez said. “The way it’s managed, the way it is run, the way that the employees are very approachable makes me really like the place.”