Conwy County and Crest proposes to introduce Podback scheme for coffee pods in UK

Conwy County Borough Council joins hands with Crest, UK’s central securities depository, to implement the ‘Podback’ coffee pod recycling scheme, which helps consumers return used plastic or aluminium coffee pods via a kerbside collection drive. Podback is a nationwide programme that receives backing from the most renowned coffee brands like Tassimo, NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto and Nespresso. 

The cross-country service will commence on September 26, and this is the first such initiative taken that will benefit the Welsh community. This service is aimed at supporting the council’s decision to reduce waste and encourage the recycling of used items.

The residents of the area will be able to recycle their aluminium or plastic coffee pods by simply registering for the service. Once the user sign-up is complete, residents would become eligible to receive Podback recycling bags and auxiliary instructions on how to use them.

After the bags are filled, residents need to put them out every fortnight, waiting for a kerbside collection spree, but if they are residing in the seldom visited parts of the town, they can book a collection drive by calling Crest.

The cabinet member for neighbourhood and the environment, Cllr Geoff Stewart, quoted: “We are really excited about being the first authority in Wales to introduce the Podback coffee pod recycling service. Our residents are encouraged to recycle as much as possible, and our recycling rate is now at 70 per cent.”

“This service is being carried out by Crest, our recycling collection partner for textiles and electricals, who will be collecting the pods using their existing vehicles. Podback is funding the service, so it is cost neutral and an excellent way for us to improve our service to residents,” he added.

The coffee pods, once collected, would be shifted to specialised recycling plants in the UK, where the plastic or aluminium would be processed again to retrieve raw materials having similar properties.

Some of the sectors where recycled plastic or aluminium would be used are the packaging, construction and automobile sectors. Not only the outside shell but the coffee grounds would also receive treatment to morph them into soil-boosting elements or some sort of renewable energy.

The process of recycling aluminium uses very little energy in comparison with the production process of primary aluminium, which makes it a better choice for industries that can suffice their requirements with a medium-quality raw material. Moreover, the rising cost of energy is a great concern for the aluminium industry, which requires huge sources of uninterrupted energy to run.

The executive director of Podback, Rick Hindley, exclaimed: “We are very excited to be launching Podback in Conwy and offering residents across the borough a convenient way to save their pods for recycling.”

“Launching our first programme in Wales is an important landmark for Podback,” he gave an important outlook.

“Residents in Wales achieve some of the best recycling rates in the UK, so we hope the same will be true for coffee pods,” Hindley asserted.