Skip to content

Recycling points for coffee pods opened in city

Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley
BBC News, Bristol
Barbara Evripidou Three people wearing orange high-vis jackets standing in front of a red ribbon holding bags that say "Podack" on them. They are also standing in front of two blue and yellow coffee pod waste bins.Barbara Evripidou
Coffee pod waste points have been opened at three Bristol recycling centres

New coffee pod recycling sites have been opened at three city reuse hubs.

Bristol Waste has set up Podback points at recycling centres in St Philip's, Hartcliffe Way and Avonmouth.

Residents will be able to use any bag or container to keep their aluminium and plastic pods separate and can purchase a special container to put them in.

Bristol City Council said the scheme adds to the city's reputation of "doing what's right for the planet".

"This is yet another product that people here can recycle, helping the planet and the city," the council spokesman said.

"Bristol has a reputation of doing what's right for the planet.

"We've held the top spot for recycling rates amongst English core cities for eight years in a row."

Barbara Evripidou Used coffee pods in various colours and sizes. They have coffee grounds on them and have holes punctured into their tops.Barbara Evripidou
Once collected the pods and the coffee grounds will be separated

The pods will be shredded and the coffee grounds turned into renewable energy and soil improver.

The plastic pods will then be recycled in East Yorkshire and the aluminium pods will be recycled in Cheshire.

Podback, the company behind the project, said the scheme creates a solution to waste.

Barbara Evripidou A black Podback container with coffee making paraphernalia inside it and reusable coffee cups next to the container branded with "Podback"Barbara Evripidou
Bristol Waste said it wants recycling to become "the norm"

Sarah Burns, sustainability and engagement manager for Bristol Waste, said it will help to get "as much as possible out of the city's black general waste wheelie bins".

"We want recycling to be the norm," she said.

"Anything people can't reduce or reuse, we want it to be as easy and possible for them to recycle."

Barbara Evripidou Three people wearing orange high-vis jackets pouring used coffee pods into special waste bins.Barbara Evripidou
The scheme allows plastic pods and aluminium pods to be recycled

Podback has said the introduction of "drop-off containers" at the recycling centres will offer a "more accessible solution for a wider range of residents".

Company executive director Rick Hindley said he hopes the project "inspires" other cities to "make improvements to their recycling infrastructure".

"Bristol is a city committed to sustainability, and this collaboration will empower residents to easily recycle their drinks pods, saving them from going to waste and ensuring valuable materials can be recycled and given a new life."

Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.

More on this story
Related internet links