Ecosurety partners with industry giants to create voluntary recycling scheme for coffee pods

Consumers will also be able to take their used coffee pods to any of the 6,500 Collect+ drop off points in local stores across the UK and there are ongoing discussions with retailers to facilitate a ‘handover at home’ option, meaning that consumers can have their used coffee pods collected for recycling when they have their groceries delivered. While this is unlikely to be ready for launch, Podback partners are working hard to make this a reality as soon as possible.

Fully recycled in the UK

The collected pods will be taken to re-processors in the UK to separate the packaging from the used coffee grounds. The plastic and aluminium pods will be processed separately to produce plastic pellets and aluminium ingots.

The plastic pellets will be used by manufacturers to produce high grade plastic items, like garden furniture, while the aluminium ingots can create beverage cans, car spare parts and other everyday objects. The coffee grounds will go through anaerobic digestion, producing both soil improver and biogas.

Cross-industry collaboration

Councillor Chris Coleman, Cabinet Member Clean and Green Environment, Cheltenham Borough Council, said “We’re pleased to be working with Podback, as one of the scheme’s first local authority partners, to offer our residents a simple way to recycle their coffee pods from their homes, particularly now many of us are doing more home working. Recycling is one of the easiest steps we can all take to protect the environment, and we’re looking forward to bringing this scheme to our residents early next year.”

Richard Howatson, Business Unit Manager, Nescafé Dolce Gusto and Starbucks at Home: said “There is power in collaboration and we know that by joining forces we can have even greater influence over the recycling rate of pods. Over the months ahead, we’ll be working closely with local authorities and other partners to make this a reality through Podback – meaning coffee drinkers will have a simple and effective way to recycle their pods, whichever brand they choose.”

To find out more about the Podback scheme, please visit www.podback.org