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Free coffee pod recycling scheme goes live
31/05/2023
Its hoped the new scheme will help improve the Cherwell district’s recycling rates
Coffee drinkers who make their beverage using coffee pods can now take advantage of a new recycling initiative. Cherwell District Council is introducing the kerbside collection of used pods thanks to a new partnership with Podback, a nationwide, not-for-profit recycling service.
Currently the used pods end up in general landfill waste.
Its hoped the new scheme will help improve the district’s recycling rates.
A leaflet is being delivered to homes telling people how they can sign up by creating an online Podback account. After doing this they will receive two free rolls of bags in the post, with more available via their online account at any time.
Depending on whether they use aluminium or plastic pods, people will receive white or green bags. This allows the different materials to be separated into different waste streams to facilitate the recycling process.
Tea and hot chocolate pods are also accepted.
Used bags can be left out for kerbside collection on the usual collection day. These are then taken to specialist reprocessing plants.
Here they are shredded to remove the coffee grounds. The plastic and aluminium are then transformed into new products, including drinks cans, car components, building products or plastic garden furniture.
The coffee grounds are processed by anaerobic digestion, which creates renewable energy and soil conditioner.
Councillor Andrew McHugh, Portfolio Holder for Cleaner and Greener Communities, said: “Cherwell residents do a great job at recycling their waste and we are always looking to support their efforts and improve the district’s recycling rate.
“Coffee pods can be difficult to recycle because they are made of a combination of different materials. That’s where a dedicated service such as Podback can really make a difference, and even better, all the materials are recycled domestically in the UK.
“Residents who use coffee machines can now enjoy the convenience of having our bin crews collect their pods and take them away for recycling. They simply need to leave their used pods on top of any of their bins, in the supplied bags, and we’ll do the rest.”
More information is available here.
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam