This post is for all my coffee and tea-loving friends—especially those living in Nepal. 🇳🇵
In the last few years, the use of disposable plastic and paper cups has increased drastically, from large cafes in Kathmandu to small tea shops across the country. In the name of modernity, we have embraced a ‘disposable culture’ that is now posing a severe pollution risk to our beautiful mountains, rivers, and health.
Honestly, seeing this rapid change is quite saddening.
Every time I go to a tea shop, I remember the old “glass tumblers” (the shisha ko glass) that we used to commonly find—simple, reusable, and truly sustainable. Today, those glass tumblers have been largely replaced by paper cups. These cups are often marketed as ‘eco-friendly,’ but we rarely stop to consider their true environmental, economic, health, and social impacts.
In this blog post, we will expose the three critical problems of disposable cups: the health hazard, the environmental fraud, and the economic burden. Furthermore, we will propose the most suitable and successful solution for Nepal: starting the ‘Shisha Glass Movement,’ inspired by successful global and Asian case studies.
Part I: The Disposable Deception – A Critical Threat to Health and Environment
Disposable cups, particularly paper cups used for hot beverages, are a major problem for two primary reasons:
1. The Invisible Health Threat: Microplastic Tea
Many people do not realize that most paper cups are lined with a thin plastic layer—typically polyethylene (PE) plastic. This plastic lining is essential to prevent the cup from becoming soggy when filled with hot liquid.
The temperature of a typical cup of tea or coffee in Nepal is often above , which is the ‘danger temperature’ that triggers plastic leaching.
The IIT Study: Research conducted in India found that when a hot beverage () is left in a paper cup for just 15 minutes, it can release up to 25,000 microplastic particles per 100 mL of liquid.
Daily Intake: If an individual drinks three cups of tea/coffee per day from disposable cups, they could be ingesting an estimated 75,000 microplastic particles daily.
Long-Term Health Risks: These microscopic plastic fragments are now found throughout the human body, including the blood, lungs, and vital organs. While research is ongoing, studies in human cells and animals suggest exposure to microplastics could be linked to:
Inflammation and impaired immune function.
Disruption of hormonal regulation, potentially increasing the risk of reproductive disorders and certain cancers.
Increased risk of cardiovascular issues, including heart attacks and strokes.
2. The Environmental Fraud: The 'Eco-Friendly' Illusion
Though paper cups are marketed as an alternative to plastic, they are far from being truly sustainable.
The Recycling Nightmare: The plastic lining (PE coating) cannot be easily separated from the outer paper layer using standard recycling mills. As a result, most recycling facilities in Nepal and globally reject these mixed-material cups. They end up in landfills, where the plastic layer persists for hundreds of years.
Resource Wastage: Producing disposable cups requires the felling of millions of trees and the consumption of billions of liters of water globally. Wasting this vast amount of natural resources for a single-use item is an unsustainable practice.
In the name of modern convenience, we have unknowingly moved away from the truly superior and sustainable practice of using simple, reusable vessels.
Part II: The Solution – Why the ‘Shisha Glass’ is the Answer
The most simple, healthy, and economically sound solution to the disposable cup crisis in Nepal is to return to our fundamental practice: the ‘Shisha Ko Glass’ (the traditional glass tumbler) or simple ceramic mugs.
1. Health and Simplicity
Zero Microplastics: Glass and steel are inert and do not react with hot beverages, ensuring no harmful microplastics or chemicals leach into your drink.
Superior Taste and Temperature: A solid, reusable mug maintains the heat of your tea or coffee for longer and ensures the true flavor is not tainted by a papery or plastic aftertaste.
Easy Sanitization: Unlike mixed-material disposables, glass and ceramic can be easily and properly washed and sanitized at high temperatures, ensuring safety.
2. Economic and Environmental Savings
The transition to reusables is not just an environmental choice; it is a sound business decision that saves money in the long run.
Cost Savings for Businesses: Data from global campaigns shows that switching from single-use to reusable for dine-in customers results in a swift return on investment (ROI).
Break-Even Point: While the upfront cost of buying reusable mugs is higher, they quickly pay for themselves. A reusable glass cup, for example, needs to be used only 15 to 40 times to have a lower carbon footprint and cost impact than using the equivalent number of single-use cups.
Annual Savings: Businesses that successfully switch to reusables for onsite dining typically save between $3,000 to $22,000 annually by eliminating the recurring daily purchasing cost of disposable cups and reducing waste hauling fees.
Addressing Nepal's Waste Crisis: Urban centers in Nepal, particularly the Kathmandu Valley, generate thousands of metric tonnes of solid waste daily, with high rates of open dumping and limited recycling capacity. Every single disposable cup eliminated directly eases the immense burden on municipal waste systems and reduces landfill pressure.
Part III: Global Case Studies and the Roadmap for Nepal
The global movement away from single-use packaging offers clear, scalable strategies that can be adapted for Nepal.
Successful Global Models:
1. The Financial Disincentive Model (Policy)
The Surcharge System: Research from the UK and North America strongly suggests that charging customers an additional fee (a surcharge) for a disposable cup is far more effective at changing behavior than offering a small discount for bringing a reusable cup (the ‘Loss Aversion’ principle).
The French Mandate: France implemented a nationwide ban on all disposable tableware for food and drink consumed on the premises (dine-in) in fast-food outlets. This simple policy immediately forced businesses to revert to reusables for internal consumption.
2. The Asian Closed-Loop Model (Rental/Deposit)
South Korea and Taiwan: Cities are implementing large-scale, reusable cup systems. These involve customers paying a small, refundable deposit for a reusable cup (often through an app). They can return the cup to any participating store or kiosk (Reverse Vending Machines) to get their deposit back.
Starbucks Korea (Jeju Island): Successfully piloted a scheme that mandated a reusable rental cup for all take-out orders, significantly diverting millions of disposable cups from landfills.
Greenpeace East Asia: Studies confirm that well-designed rental reuse systems in cities like Hong Kong, Taipei, and Busan substantially out-perform disposable cups across various environmental impact categories.
The ‘Shisha Glass Movement’ Roadmap for Nepal
To succeed, Nepal needs a unified approach involving the public, businesses, and local government.
A. Action for Cafés & Tea Shops (The Business Pivot):
Mandate ‘Dine-In Reusable’: Immediately switch the default for all customers consuming their drinks on-site back to the traditional glass tumbler (shisha ko glass) or ceramic mugs. Disposable cups should only be offered for take-away.
Incentivize BYOC: Clearly advertise and provide a meaningful discount (e.g., 10 NPR off) for customers who bring their own clean, reusable cup.
Implement an Environmental Fee: Introduce a small, mandatory 5-10 NPR fee on any drink served in a paper or plastic single-use takeaway cup. This covers the environmental and disposal cost and encourages the customer to choose reusable next time.
B. Action for Individuals (The Consumer Habit):
Be Prepared: Make carrying a reusable cup (steel, glass) a non-negotiable part of your daily routine, just like carrying a wallet or phone.
Use Your Voice: Politely but firmly request a glass cup when sitting down. If ordering take-away, proudly present your own cup and ask for the discount.
Support Sustainable Shops: Consciously choose to support the cafes and tea stalls that have already adopted the reusable glass and offer BYOC discounts.
C. Action for Policymakers (The Regulatory Backbone):
Enforce the Dine-In Ban: Local governments should enact regulations similar to France’s, legally requiring all food and beverage outlets to use reusable tableware for on-premise dining.
Strengthen Infrastructure: Focus on developing local waste management systems that can properly handle the small, non-recyclable fraction of waste, and introduce policies like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to make producers accountable for the end-of-life management of their packaging.
Conclusion: Our Sustainable Future is in Our Hands
The widespread adoption of the single-use cup is an example of how, in the name of convenience, we can unknowingly regress from a truly good, sustainable practice. We traded a timeless, healthy, reusable glass for a polluting, microplastic-leaching, mixed-material disposable cup.
But we have the opportunity to change.
Switching back to reusable options is not just about reducing trash; it is about protecting our personal health, safeguarding our fragile Himalayan ecosystems, and preserving the beauty of Nepal for future generations.
The simple choice of one “Shisha Ko Glass” holds the potential to spark a national movement of lasting positive change.
Do you also miss the “glass tumbler” like I do? It’s time to stop missing it and start bringing it back to every corner tea shop!
Share your thoughts in the comments—does your favorite café use the shisha ko glass, and what is your favorite reusable cup?
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