Leeds City Council partners with Podback, a not-for-profit coffee pod recycling service, to trial coffee pod recycling at household waste recycling centres at Kirkstall, Wetherby and Yeadon.
The centres now include Podback containers at each site for disposing of aluminium and plastic pods. Coffee, tea or hot chocolate pods from participating brands can be recycled in the containers.
Used pods should be dropped into the containers loose and in their entirety. From there, they are collected and recycled at dedicated Podback facilities in the UK.
Leeds City Council says any remaining coffee grounds or residue left in the pods will be treated by anaerobic digestion locally in Yorkshire to create renewable energy (biogas) and soil improver.
Leeds City Council executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space, Councillor Mohammed Rafique, commented: “We are really excited to start the new year by working with Podback to recycle coffee pods at our household waste recycling centres.”
“The timing is ideal, as people may have received a coffee-maker as a gift for Christmas, so now they can recycle the pods easily and help the environment at the same time.”
Podback Executive Director Rick Hindley said: “It’s great to be able to expand the Podback service by trialling it at three of Leeds City Council’s 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 helping to reduce waste and increase recycling.”
