The new coffee pod recycling service supports the Councils’ aims to reduce waste, increase recycling, save resources, and give materials a second life.  

Residents will be able to recycle their plastic or aluminium coffee pods at home by signing up for free on the Podback website. They will be sent two rolls of Podback recycling bags (26 bags or six months’ supply) along with instructions on how to use the service. 

Filled bags of used pods can then be put out alongside or on top (not inside) of the waste, recycling or garden waste container(s), on their usual recycling collection day. Residents living in flats can participate by using the Podback Drop Off service.   

Councillor Will Roberts, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood, said: “We are really excited about adding coffee pods to our kerbside recycling collection service, and adding to the list of items that residents can recycle from home. This new service is fully funded by Podback, so pod machine users can enjoy their cappuccinos, lattes and hot chocolates and be reassured that their used pods will be recycled here in the UK.”   

Podback Executive Director Rick Hindley says: “We know that the most convenient way for people to recycle their coffee pods is as part of their Council’s regular service1, so we are excited to be working in partnership with the Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick District Council’s to make that happen.  Recycling with Podback means tonnes of used pods will be removed from the waste stream every year, and the aluminium, plastic and coffee will all be given a new life.”   

Once collected, the coffee pods will be sent to specialist recycling plants. The plastic and aluminium will be transformed into new products, including beverage cans, automotive components, building products and re-usable plastic crates, while the coffee grounds will be treated by anaerobic digestion to create renewable energy and soil improver.   

Podback FAQs

Research

1 In research conducted by YouGov on behalf of Podback, 90% of respondents state that they’d like to be able to recycle their coffee pods through their usual household recycling. 

The polling was conducted between 9-11 September 2020. Total sample size was 4,323 adults. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+). 

About Podback

Podback is a nationwide, not-for-profit, coffee pod recycling service. Created by the biggest names in coffee pods systems, Nespresso, NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto and Tassimo, to give people who enjoy the quality and taste of coffee pods simple and easy ways to recycle them.

Podback partners with local authorities to facilitate kerbside collections of pods, as part of their household waste and recycling services. In addition, people can recycle their used pods via the Yodel network of drop-off points across the UK.

Find out more about the brands and local authority partners involved with Podback.