Aluminium and plastic pods from participating Podback member brands can be recycled with Podback.

Together, these brands represent over 80% of the UK market. Podback’s ambition is to expand the programme to include all coffee pod brands using plastic or aluminium pods in the UK.

If your brand is not currently a member, why not contact them and suggest they get involved?

Pod manufacturers make pods from both aluminium and plastic.  As these are sent to different recycling facilities, it is important that they are collected separately using the correct Podback kerbside bags.

You will need to sign up for the Podback service to order Podback bags. The service is free.  Podback will send you two rolls of bags for recycling your aluminium OR plastic coffee pods along with instructions.

If you use NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto pods, you will also be offered a storage caddy when you first create your online account.

Yes, you can. It is important that the plastic and aluminium pods are collected separately, as they are sent to different locations within the UK to be recycled.

If your household regularly uses both aluminium and plastic pods, the easiest option is to create two accounts, one for plastic and one for aluminium, using different email addresses. You can then order the appropriate bags when needed.

These pods tend to hold more liquid.  The caddy enables excess liquid to drain more easily and help users to store pods between collections.

Full instructions on how to use your caddy are provided when you create your online Podback account.

Simply transfer the pods to the Podback kerbside recycling bag when they are ready for collection.

Yes. Please contact Podback directly and they will arrange to send you a replacement caddy. 

We can collect as many full bags as you have. Please fill your bags up to the dotted line.

If you run out of bags, you can reorder by logging into your account on the Podback website.

No, the different types of pods must be kept separate so they can be sent to the correct reprocessing facility. There are two different bags, white for aluminium pods and green for plastic pods.

If your household regularly uses both aluminium and plastic pods, the easiest option is to create two accounts, one for plastic and one for aluminium, using different email addresses. You can then order the appropriate bags when needed.

No, please do not place the packaging your pods came in inside the collection bags. Check how to recycle these items here 

No. To take part in the Podback kerbside recycling service you must use the recycling bags provided for free by Podback.

The Podback bags help the collection crews identify the bags easily.  It also helps them to be sorted for reprocessing more effectively.

It’s easy to sign up and order kerbside bags from the Podback website.

The collection crews will collect all Podback recycling bags that are clearly visible next to the recycling boxes, securely tied and not split or overflowing.

Please make sure your bags only contain coffee pods and are not filled with liquids or packaging. It may be that the crew had to leave the bags as they contained the wrong materials. If the bags do contain the wrong materials or lots of liquid, please remove these before putting them out on your next collection.

No, please do not take your pods to the Household Waste and Recycling centres. You can only recycle your coffee pods through our kerbside collection service. You can sign up to this free service at the Podback website.

After collection, the coffee pods are taken to specialist reprocessing plants in the UK.  They are shredded to remove the coffee grounds. The plastic and aluminium are then transformed into new products, including beverage cans, car components, building products or plastic garden furniture. The coffee grounds are processed by anaerobic digestion, which creates renewable energy (biogas) and soil improver.

Watch our animation to show what happens to your pods 

The recycling process takes place in the UK, so your pod doesn’t have to travel far before it’s transformed into something new.  Aluminium pods are reprocessed in Cheshire. Plastic pods are reprocessed in Yorkshire.

Watch our live video to show how your pods are processed

The carbon footprint of the service is very important to us. We are working with Podback and partners to make sure the service is as efficient as possible.

Coffee pods have traditionally been difficult to recycle through existing collection services due to their size, weight and wet coffee grounds. The Podback service helps us divert coffee grounds and valuable resources from landfill or Energy from Waste.

You can cancel the Podback service through your online account at any time.

More frequently asked questions are also available on the Podback website.