There’s no two ways about it, Australia loves its coffee.
So much so that we, as a country, are responsible for using more than 3-million single-use coffee pods each day. To put that in perspective, Australia uses enough coffee capsules in Australia each day to fill more than 25 Olympic sized swimming pools.
Of the 3-million coffee capsules that are consumed each day in Australia, less than 20% of these are recyclable which results in more than 8,500 tonnes of aluminium, plastic, and coffee ground each year that is sent to landfills.
Coffee pods, while great for their convenience and ease of use, present a unique set of challenges because of their natural and non-natural material composition. Additionally, coffee capsules are too small for traditional recycling facilities to process effectively.
While there is no chance of Australia’s love affair with coffee fading any time soon, there are steps that we can take to ensure that coffee pods and capsules don’t contribute to the 20.5 million tonnes of landfill Australia produces each year.
Table of contents
- Can coffee pods be recycled?
- Challenges with recycling coffee pods
- Where to recycle coffee pods/capsules
- How to reduce the impact of coffee capsules
Can coffee pods be recycled?
Yes, coffee pods and capsules can be recycled in Australia – but the process is far from straightforward.
Capsules are amongst the fastest growing coffee segments in Australia. In spite of their popularity, the existing coffee pod collection schemes tend to be brand specific which makes it difficult when it comes time to recycle. These limited recycling programs do not provide enough support to properly limit the impact of coffee pod waste.
Challenges with recycling coffee pods
While coffee capsules can technically be recycled, their unique natural/non-natural material composition creates a complicated grey area that plays a large role in their meagre recycling rate. Because coffee pods use coffee (natural) and aluminium/plastic (non-natural) materials in their construction, they are inherently difficult to separate and recover.
Despite initiatives from market leaders Nespresso, the reported global recycling rate for coffee capsules sits at just 32% as of 2023. This situation underscores the need for a straightforward recycling and collection program to mitigate the concerning impact of these small, yet extremely damaging coffee consumables.
Where to recycle coffee pods/capsules in Australia
If you’re looking to recycle coffee capsules and pods in Australia, you have a few options, including:
Nespresso Recycling Program
The Nespresso Recycling Program has been around for more than a decade. The In that time, the program has extended to include four different collection and recycling methods:
- Capsules can be returned to a Nespresso boutique using a free recycling bag available through the same boutiques.
- Dedicated collection points available through local businesses and community groups that take part in the Nespresso Recycling Program.
- Collection through your workplace or community. Groups are encouraged to join the bulk recycling program to become a free public or private collection points to collect and return capsules from people within the community.
- Post-return capsules directly to Nespresso. Customers can send their used capsules directly to Nespresso using a specifically designed subsidised Australia Post Recycling Satchel which can be ordered online through Nespresso.
Coffee capsules recycled through the Nespresso Recycling Program are separated and processed as natural and non-natural materials so that they can be recycled or processed as compost and used in soil.
Today, Nespresso claims that their Original Line capsules are currently made from 80% recycled aluminium, while their Vertuo capsules are made using 85% recycling aluminium.
TerraCycle Partnerships Coffee Pod Recycling
The TerraCycle Partnerships coffee pod recycling program recycles L'OR, Moccona, illy, Campos & Jed's coffee capsules for free. The TerraCycle Partnerships coffee pod recycling program works by allowing users to sign up for an account for the program before using any existing box to start collecting their used coffee capsules.
Once the box becomes full, they can then print a free, prepaid shipping label, affix it to the box, and send it directly back to TerraCycle to be recycled. It's important to remember that the TerraCycle Partnerships coffee pod recycling program does not accept any other brands of coffee capsules.
Podcycle Scheme (Launching in 2024)
The Podcycle coffee pod recycling scheme is the latest coffee capsule recycling scheme from Planet Ark and is set to launch in 2024. The new product stewardship scheme from Planet Ark is a collaboration with a range of different coffee pod brands and stakeholders committed to improving the sustainability of capsule coffee consumption.
In short, the Podcycle coffee pod recycling scheme aims to establish a nationwide program that accounts for all different brands of coffee pods as a voluntary scheme in conjunction with the Australian Government. In store trials commenced in October 2023, and the program is set to roll out across the country in 2024, however, no date has been confirmed at the time of writing.
How to reduce the impact of coffee capsules
When it comes to reducing the environmental impact of coffee capsules in Australia, it comes back to choosing sustainable options, greener practices and opting into the various coffee capsule recycling schemes offered in Australia.
In addition to opting into these schemes, capsule buyers can also choose to shop pods that are made from biodegradable materials such as paper and cardboard that can be broken down and recycled.
While many of the big global coffee capsule brands continue to lag behind on the rollout of biodegradable coffee pods and capsules, there are many local alternatives from enviro-conscious coffee roasteries that use recycled materials to encourage sustainable coffee capsule consumption practices. For those looking to reduce the impact of their coffee consumption, it’s important to seek green options that consider the environmental impact of single-use coffee pods.
In addition to avoiding non-recycling single use capsules and participating in capsule recycling initiatives, buyers can also use reusable coffee capsules to effectively limit their consumption of single use consumables. These capsules provide a cost-effective option and allow coffee-lovers to choose their own brew while making an environmentally friendly decision that effectively diverts capsules from landfills. Reusable capsules are easy to use, wash, and cheap. Over the course of a year, coffee capsule drinkers can make a big impact on their coffee waste and prevent 365 coffee pods from ending up in landfills and contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.