A new study by environmental watchdog group Beyond Plastics found that Starbucks plastic cups labeled as "widely recyclable" are not actually being recycled, despite the company's claims about the containers' recyclability.

Researchers attached GPS tracking devices to 53 Starbucks plastic cups and placed them in recycling bins across nine states. According to the study, none of the tracked cups ended up at recycling facilities.

Earlier this year, Starbucks announced that its plastic cups were now considered "widely recyclable" according to How2Recycle, an organization affiliated with the consumer packaging industry that provides recycling labels for private companies. The coffee chain described this designation as a "big milestone, with huge impact."

The findings raise questions about the gap between recycling labels on packaging and the actual recycling infrastructure's ability to process these materials. The study highlights ongoing challenges in the recycling system, where items labeled as recyclable may not have accessible processing facilities in many areas.

Starbucks has not immediately responded to requests for comment about the study's findings. The research adds to broader discussions about corporate environmental claims and the effectiveness of current recycling systems in handling various types of packaging materials.