Nespresso dedicates US$1.2 million for better aluminium capsules recycling

According to a recent report, Nespresso, in collaboration with New York City’s curbside recycling programme, has made a US$1.2 million commitment to enable better recovery of its aluminium coffee capsules.

President and CEO of Nespresso USA Guillaume Le Cunff said, “Nespresso is deeply committed to the circular use of our products, choosing aluminium packaging because it both protects the quality of our exceptional coffees and can be recycled and reused again and again.”

Nespresso believes that its collaboration with the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY), and Sims Municipal Recycling (SMR) will drive its recycling efforts and further offer New York City-based consumers additional options to recycle used capsules and other aluminium products at home.

"SMR‘s role is to take the household recyclables that DSNY collects from New Yorkers and convert them into commodities or raw materials for manufacturers," said Thomas Outerbridge, General Manager of SMR.

He further said, "Nespresso has been extremely proactive in working with us to find an effective solution that is convenient for customers and that will allow us to direct the aluminium into productive reuse."

In addition to capsules, Nespresso’s commitment will allow SMR to better sort and capture lightweight aluminium, including foil and other mixed metals, according to the report.

"This is an excellent example of how the public and private sectors can collaborate to develop solutions that have broad environmental impact and create shared value,” said Nespresso’s Le Cunff, while adding that New Yorkers were only familiar with recycling aluminium cans, but now would learn to recycle a wider array of aluminium products that they use on a regular basis.