How to recycle your coffee pods – Podback
We are working with Podback to provide a free recycling service, helping you to recycle your pods (coffee, tea and hot chocolate) as part of your normal kerbside collection.
How to get started
It's easy to start recycling your pods, simply follow the steps:
- sign up and order your free recycling bags from Podback. First, you will need to create a personal Podback account, instructions are provided
- Podback will send you two rolls of recycling bags to suit the type of pods you use, along with an instruction leaflet. Each roll contains 13 bags for recycling your aluminium or plastic coffee pods. Bags are sent by Royal Mail and should arrive within 7 to 10 working days
- once you have your bags, fill them as instructed
- place the bag(s) on top of your kerbside waste or recycling bin by 7am, on your normal collection day
- when you need to top up your supply of recycling bags you can log into your account on the Podback website and reorder
Who runs Podback?
Podback is a nationwide, not-for-profit, coffee pod recycling service. Created by some of the biggest names in coffee pod systems, to give people who enjoy coffee made with pods a simple and easy ways to recycle them.
What types of coffee pods can be recycled?
Plastic and aluminium pods for coffee, tea, hot chocolate and milk from participating Podback member brands can be recycled using Podback collection bags.
When you sign up on the Podback website you'll be asked what brand of pods you use. This is so you get the correct bag - white bags for aluminium pods and green bags for plastic pods. The two materials need to be collected separately as they are sent to different recycling facilities.
What the bag for aluminium coffee pods looks like
What the bag for plastic coffee pods looks like
What happens to the pods once collected?
The coffee pods you recycle with Podback are taken to specialist aluminium and plastics reprocessing plants in the UK. The coffee grounds are removed, and the plastic and aluminium are then transformed into new products, including beverage cans, plastic food trays and packaging crates. The coffee grounds are used to create renewable energy (biogas) and soil improver.
I live in a flat, can I still participate in the scheme?
If you live in a block of flats with a communal bin collection, you can use the Podback Drop Off service, provided by Yodel. To find out more, and how to get your free recycling bags for this service, please visit the Podback website.