Hello mZZ, Thank you for your interest in Starbucks recycling efforts. We share your interest in preserving the planet for future generations and we are committed to significantly reducing the waste our stores generate - especially when it comes to recycling. In fact, we have set a goal of having recycling available in 100 percent of our stores where we control waste pick-up by 2015. This is actually a very complex issue that we have been trying to address for many years and we are committed to doing the work it takes to make recycling available to our customers. As you may know, recycling is dependent on the availability of commercial recycling services where our stores are located. Our ability to place recycling bins in all of our stores is also dependent on city or county governments, who either manage this service directly or contract it out to private haulers. These local authorities can provide subsidies and sometimes mandate whether or not the haulers have to collect paper, glass, plastics or compostable waste. For commercial recycling (such as at a Starbucks store), the items that get collected are almost always driven by the open market. This means that if the haulers can get a good price for recyclable materials (cardboard, glass, plastic, food-contaminated paper products), they'll collect it from local businesses. But if they can't get a good price - or when there's not a critical mass of materials to collect - they may not collect them because there's no financial benefit for them. Another significant challenge is the fact that half of our stores are located in leased spaces where we don't control waste collection and recycling. Our landlords often determine whether tenants can recycle based on space availability and commercial recycling services. Regardless of these hurdles, Starbucks is committed to finding innovative solutions that will provide recycling in all stores where we control waste collection by 2015. Last year, 70 percent of our stores recycled at least one type of waste where commercial recycling is available - but it's often happening behind the counter, out of sight to customers. In 2009, we are testing front-of-house recycling in several markets. We also have recycling programs in our other facilities, including Starbucks Support Center - our global headquarters in Seattle, and our roasting plants in Kent, Washington; York, Pennsylvania; and Carson Valley, Nevada. Thank you for being a Starbucks customer and for your interest in our recycling efforts. We invite you to visit www.starbucks.com/sharedplanet to learn more about our many environmental initiatives. Sincerely, Neil S. Customer Relations Starbucks Coffee Company 800 23-LATTE (235-2883) Monday through Friday, 5AM to 6PM (PST) If you would like to share your thoughts about your experience with Starbucks Customer Contact Center, please click on the link below to participate in a short survey. Your comments will be used to ensure that any future experiences with Starbucks Customer Contact Center meet your highest expectations. http://www.starbuckscontactcenter.com/?group=CR&template=CR062&CN=7882706&aspect=84104