Council to recycle coffee pods to reduce carbon

The coffee grounds will be turned into renewable energy

Coffee pods can now be recycled at Wiltshire Council's household recycling centres.

Aluminium and plastic coffee pods, used in pod system coffee machines, can now be taken to the centres and deposited in the separate plastic and aluminium recycling bins.

They have to be collected separately, as they are recycled at different facilities.

Councillor Dominic Muns said: “This innovation aligns with our pledge to help the county become carbon neutral, which is a key priority for us.”

Recycling service Podback will shred the pods to remove the coffee, then the plastic and aluminium are 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 and soil improver.

Mr Muns, cabinet member for Waste and Environment, said: “It’s great that residents will now be able to use their coffee machines happy in the knowledge that their used pods can be recycled into new products and renewable energy."

Podback executive director, Rick Hindley, added: “We want to make coffee pod recycling as easy as possible, and this new service enables residents to drop off pods when convenient, alongside other recyclables, and helps to reduce waste and increase recycling.”