COFFEE pods can now be recycled at household recycling centres (HRCs) – including in Salisbury – and used to items including car parts.
People can now drop off the pods, used in household machines, at Wiltshire Council-run centres, including at the Churchfields Industrial Estate in the city.
The council has joined forces with Podback to offer recycling of the aluminium and plastic pods, which should be collected separately and deposited in separate plastic and aluminium recycling bins at HRCs.
Plastic and aluminium pods need to be collected separately, as they are recycled at different facilities.
All the pods collected by Podback are recycled in the UK, where they are shredded to remove the coffee, with the plastic and aluminium are used to create new products such as packaging, car components and building products.
The coffee grounds will be treated by anaerobic digestion to create renewable energy (biogas) and soil improver.
Podback is a not-for-profit recycling service, created and funded by the makers of coffee pod systems – Nescafe Dolce Gusto, Tassimo and Nespresso, along with more than 25 coffee pod brands and retailers.
Cllr Dominic Muns, cabinet member for waste and environment, said: “We’re really excited to be working with Podback to introduce another recycling stream at our household recycling centres.
“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.
“This innovation aligns with our pledge to help the county become carbon neutral, which is a key priority for us.”
Podback executive director, Rick Hindley, added: “It’s great to be able to expand the Podback service to Wiltshire Council’s household recycling centres.
“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.”
As a family we go through a lot of Tassimo pods but I do not drive so getting to the re-cycling centre is not an option. Would it be possible to put them in a clear bag and leave on top of the re-cycling bin like we do for batteries?