Podback teams up with ODS and Oxford City Council to launch kerbside recycling collection service

Podback has teamed up with ODS and Oxford City Council to allow residents to recycle their coffee pods using their kerbside recycling collection service. Oxford residents can recycle both plastic and aluminium coffee pods using free collection bags provided by Podback, which will commence on 9th August.

Those who cannot access a kerbside service, a Collect+ service is available that allows consumers to drop off filled bags to a Collect+ store.

The Podback scheme was created in partnership with Nespresso, Nescafe Dolce Gusto and Tassimo. Research, conducted by YouGov, revealed that 35 per cent of coffee pod drinkers are unaware that pods can be recycled, while 90 per cent users believe that they’d like to be able to recycle their coffee pods through their usual household recycling.

Following the registration, residents will be sent a roll of recycling bags and can start using them by putting them out for kerbside collection, by placing on top of their blue recycling or green waste bin lid on their normal collection day.

Once collected, the coffee pods will be sent for reprocessing to separate the packaging from the coffee grounds. The coffee grounds will be used to create soil improver and renewable energy, while plastic and aluminium will be recycled into new products.

Councillor Lubna Arshad, Cabinet Member for Parks and Waste Reduction: “With more people working from home and drinking coffee, the expansion of the recycling service to collect coffee pods couldn’t come at a better time. Our residents want to do the right thing for the environment and recycle as much as possible.

“The coffee pods will be collected every week for recycling using both our household recycling and waste vehicles.”

Rick Hindley, Executive Director of Podback, said: “We want people to enjoy the quality and taste of coffee and have easy ways to recycle their pods. Consumers can already access local Collect + stores of which there are more than 6,500 in the UK, to drop off empty coffee pods.”

“However, this new collaboration with ODS and Oxford City Council, to introduce coffee pod collections through the existing kerbside recycling services, will make it even easier for consumers to participate at home whilst helping the Council increase the amount it recycles.”