Devonshire recycling centres now accept used coffee pods for anaerobic digestion and recycling as part of a partnership with Podback.
The move comes after waste management company SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK, which operates Devon County Council’s Household Waste Recycling centres, partnered with coffee pod recycling service Podback.
Residents in Devonshire can now take used aluminium and plastic coffee, tea and hot chocolate pods to a recycling centre and empty them loose into the marked containers. Bags and other packaging must not be included, and plastic and aluminium pods must be separated.
Commenting on the service, Rob Sanders, Regional Manager at SUEZ, which operates Devon’s Household Waste Recycling Centres, said: “It’s a small change that will make a big difference.”
“Residents are always looking for more ways to recycle everyday items, and this initiative is a practical step toward reducing waste and supporting a more circular local economy. We’re proud to help make recycling even easier for residents in Devon.”
All pods collected are recycled in the UK, where they are shredded to remove the coffee, with the plastic and aluminium recycled to make new products, such as packaging, car components, and building materials.
The coffee grounds are treated through anaerobic digestion to produce renewable energy (biogas) and a soil improver.
Podback is a not‑for‑profit recycling service, created and funded by the UK coffee pod brands and national retailers.
Councillor Jacqi Hodgson, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for waste services, said: “It’s right that manufacturers are taking responsibility for funding this service and are ensuring that their products are recyclable, and it helps reduce the amount of waste going for disposal.”
“I’d just ask people to store their pods and bring them along when they’re already visiting a recycling centre, rather than making a special trip.”
