Recycle your coffee pods at York’s Household Waste Recycling Centres

Coffee lovers can now dispose of their used pods in an environmentally friendly way as part of a new service aimed at reducing waste. 

City of York Council is working with Podback, a coffee pod recycling service, to offer the containers at our household waste recycling centres (HWRCs).

Used coffee pods, as well as tea, milk, and hot chocolate pods, are accepted. The plastic or aluminium pods need to be collected separately, as they are recycled at different facilities. 

As part of the scheme, pods will be sent to specialist recycling plants and be transformed into new products such as packaging, car components and building products. 

Coffee grounds will be treated by anaerobic digestion to create soil improver and renewable energy. 

Cllr Jenny Kent, Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency, said: “We’re delighted that people can now recycle coffee and hot chocolate pods at both Hazel Court and Towthorpe recycling centres and are including the new ‘drop off pods’ service within our pedestrian/cycle area at Hazel Court too.

“Recycling items uses less energy than manufacturing from raw materials, saves finite natural resources and reduces the carbon emissions generated by throwing items away.”

Podback’s executive director, Rick Hindley, added: “It’s great to be able to expand our service to York’s household waste 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, helping to reduce waste and increase recycling.” 

Podback is a not-for-profit recycling service, created and funded by the UK’s leading coffee pod systems of NESCAFE Dolce Gusto, Tassimo and Nespresso, and over 25 coffee pod brands and national retailers. All pods collected by Podback are recycled in the UK. 

The containers are available at both household waste recycling centres and includes the facility within the pedestrian/cycle area at Hazel Court too.

Find out more about the centres and the new service at www.york.gov.uk/Waste