Over one million coffee pods recycled in Cherwell District

The service is being used by over 3,000 households

Over a million coffee pods have been recycled in the Cherwell District since an innovative new recycling scheme was introduced by Cherwell District Council.

Lovers of home lattes and those choosing a cappuccino in the comfort of their own place have taken to the scheme since it launched at the end of May last year.

The Council is working with the not-for-profit organisation Podback for the scheme.  They shred the pods to remove the coffee grounds.   The plastic and aluminium are then transformed into new products, such as cans, car components, building products or plastic garden furniture.    The coffee grounds are processed by anaerobic digestion, which creates renewable energy and soil conditioner.

People can join the scheme by signing-up for an online Podback account.   They will then receive two free rolls of bags which can be filled with pods and then left out on top of their bin on their usual collection day.

Tea and hot chocolate pods are also accepted.

Over 3,000 households are currently using the service with the weight of recycled materials tipping the scales at 16.4 tonnes.

Councillor Andrew McHugh, Portfolio Holder for Cleaner and Greener Communities, said: “Waste reduction and recycling are key commitments for the council, but we can only make a real difference with the support of our communities.

“Reaching this million pods milestone only eight months into a new service is a real sign of residents’ commitment to environmental sustainability. Their efforts with coffee pods make an important contribution to our work to improve the district’s recycling rates and, like all recycling, it saves energy and reduces reliance on the extraction of raw materials.”

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Published: 22/02/2024 12:58pm by Banbury FM Newsteam

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