Podback launches its first coffee pod recycling service in Scotland
In a first for Scotland, East Ayrshire Council, in partnership with Podback, is expanding its household recycling service to include the collection of coffee pods.
Podback, a nationwide, not-for-profit, coffee pod recycling service is fully funding the scheme and collections will start on Monday 16 October.
Residents will be able to sign up to recycle their plastic and aluminium coffee pods at home by registering on the Podback website from Monday 2 October.
Once they have signed up, they will be sent a supply of free Podback recycling bags (26 bags or six months’ supply) along with instructions on how to use the service.
Collections will then start from Monday 16 October and will be part of the normal weekly kerbside recycling service. Residents just need to leave their bags of pods on the lid of their recycling trolley by 6:30am on their normal collection day. Residents living in flats can participate by using the Podback Drop Off service.
The new coffee pod recycling service supports the Council’s aims to reduce waste, help increase the recycling rate to 50% by 2025, save resources and give materials a second life.
Councillor Jim McMahon, Cabinet Spokesperson for Housing, Transport and Communities said “We are really excited about being the first local authority in Scotland to introduce coffee pod recycling to our existing kerbside recycling collection. This scheme makes it easy and convenient for residents to participate at home, allowing coffee pod users, like myself, to enjoy their coffee knowing the pods won’t be going to waste. This scheme also shows our ambition to increase recycling rates locally and provide the very best service to our communities at the kerbside.”
Podback Executive Director Rick Hindley said: “We’re delighted to be launching our first Podback service in Scotland. East Ayrshire is leading the way for coffee pod recycling and hopefully can encourage more Scottish authorities to sign up.
“Recycling with Podback means tonnes of used pods will be removed from the waste stream, and the materials will be recycled in the UK.”
Once collected, the coffee pods will be sent to specialist recycling plants in the UK. The pods are shredded to remove the coffee, then the plastic and aluminium used to create new products, including packaging, car components and building products. The coffee grounds will be treated by anaerobic digestion to create renewable energy (biogas) and soil improver.
Find more information online www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/podback
To find out more about signing up for the new Podback service please visit: www.podback.org
Notes to editors
Background
Since January 2021, UK consumers have bought over 1.2 billion coffee pods every year. Research conducted by YouGov on behalf of Podback found that 35% of coffee pod drinkers are unaware that pods can be recycled, while 90% state that they’d like to be able to recycle their coffee pods through their usual household recycling.
Coffee pod consumption source: Nielsen Total Coffee database YTD (January 2021). Figures across all beverage pods sold in grocery retailers.
The polling was conducted by YouGov on behalf of Podback, 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 at www.podback.org/about