We have developed a series of generic FAQs which can be used as required. Please check these carefully and tailor them as necessary to your support your Podback service prior to publishing.
Door To Door Collections
Sign up for the service through the Podback website and order your FREE recycling bags.
Podback will send you two rolls of bags for recycling your aluminium OR plastic coffee pods along with an instructional leaflet. If you use NESCAFE Dolce Gusto pods you will also receive a storage caddy. The bags will be automatically replenished after 6 months.
There are two different bags, a white one for aluminium and a green one for plastic. Aluminium and plastic pods MUST be kept separate so that they can be sent to the correct reprocessing facility.
Fill your bag as instructed. Put your bag(s) out with your kerbside textiles and electricals collection OR if your live in a rural area book a collection by calling Crest on 01492 596783.
Aluminium and plastic pods are sent to different recycling facilities, so it is important that they are collected separately. If you use both types of pods, you will need to register for both when you sign up for the service.
Your bags will be sent to you within 7 – 10 working days. Once you have your bags, you can start using them straight away. Simply follow the instructions and place the bag out for collection along with your kerbside textiles and electricals collection OR if your live in a rural area book a collection by calling Crest on 01492 596783.
Currently there are 11 brands supporting the scheme: Nespresso, NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto, Starbucks by Nespresso, Starbucks by NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto, Tassimo, L’OR, Cru Kafe, Artisan Coffee Co, Allpress Espresso, Colonna Coffee, Café Palmieri by Jomad Coffee and Pret a Manager. Together these brands represent over three quarters of the UK market.
Podback’s ambition is to expand the programme to include all coffee pod brands using plastic or aluminium pods in the UK. If your brand is not currently a member, why not contact them and suggest they get involved?
Podback’s mission is to create simple and easy ways for people to recycle coffee pods, whatever the brand.
Currently, there are 11 brands involved in Podback and we’re keen to expand the programme so that there is a single system for pod lovers to use across the UK. We’re in active discussions about Podback membership with more brands and retailers, so that every part of the coffee pod sector is involved in the programme.
All aluminium and plastic pods from participating brands can be recycled with Podback: Nespresso, NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto, Starbucks by Nespresso, Starbucks by NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto, Tassimo, L’OR, CruKafe, Artisan Coffee Co, Allpress Espresso, Colonna Coffee, Café Palmieri by Jomad Coffee and Pret a Manager are accepted and can be recycled through the Podback programme. This includes coffee, hot chocolate and tea pods.
You can find out more on the Podback website
Yes, you can recycle any type of pods from the following brands: Nespresso, NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto, Starbucks by Nespresso, Starbucks by NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto, Tassimo, L’OR, CruKafe, Artisan Coffee Co, Allpress Espresso, Colonna Coffee, Café Palmieri by Jomad Coffee and Pret a Manager. This includes hot chocolate and tea pods.
No, the different types of pods must be kept separate so they can be sent to the correct reprocessing facility. There are two different bags, a white one for aluminium pods and a green one for plastic pods.
If you use both aluminium and plastic pods you should request both types of bags when you sign up for the service on the Podback website
No, please do not place the packaging your pods came in inside the collection bags. Check how to recycle these items locally using RECYCLE NOW LOCATOR
These pods tend to hold more liquid. When you sign up for the Podback service you’ll be asked which brand of pods you use so the correct recycling bags can be sent to you. Nescafé Dolce Gusto users will also be sent a drainage caddy. The caddies enable excess liquid to drain more easily and help users to store pods between collections. Full instructions are provided with the caddy.
Simply transfer the pods to the Podback kerbside recycling bag when they are ready for collection
Yes.
Please contact Podback directly and they will arrange for a replacement caddy to be sent to you.
Once your bags are full, please place them out for collection along with your kerbside textiles and electricals collection OR if your live in a rural area book a collection by calling Crest on 01492 596783
No, you can put the whole pod straight into the recycling bag. The coffee grounds are removed from the pods as part of the recycling process. The coffee is then treated by anaerobic digestion which creates renewable energy (biogas) and soil improver.
Please drain any remaining liquid from your used pods before adding it to your recycling bag.
Top tips for used coffee grounds that may be left over in your machine
- Simply pop your spent coffee grounds in a little pot and place in your fridge to help capture all those unwelcome odours and smells.
- Feed hungry plants by either adding to your compost heap or placing on top of the soil, which helps keep those pesky little slugs, snails and ants at bay.
We can collect as many bags as you want. Once your bags are full, please place them out for collection along with your kerbside textiles and electricals collection OR if your live in a rural area book a collection by calling Crest on 01492 596783. Should you run out of bags, you can order more from the Podback website
You will need to sign up for the Podback service in order to get bags. The service is free. Podback will send you two rolls of bags for recycling your aluminium OR plastic coffee pods along with an instructional leaflet. If you use NESCAFE Dolce Gusto pods you will also receive a storage caddy.
Please visit the Podback website and use the contact form to order an additional roll of kerbside collection bags.
The quantity of pods will depend on the brand of pods you use. Follow the instructions on the bag and fill it to the dotted line, and please ensure they are drained of any liquid.
No. To take part in the Podback kerbside recycling collection scheme you must use the recycling bags provided for free by Podback. The Podback bags help our crews to easily identify the bags and put them in the relevant container on the collection vehicle. It also helps them to be sorted for reprocessing more easily.
It’s quick to sign up and order kerbside bags from the Podback website
Flats
Yes. If you live in a flat or communal property and cannot access a kerbside collection service, you can use the Drop Off service, which allows you to drop off filled bags to your nearest Collect+ store. To order your free recycling bag visit the ways to recycle section of the Podback website.
If you request a Drop Off service, you will be sent a Collect+ recycling bag specifically for this type of collection. Collect+ bags are free; however, a delivery charge may be applied. Please follow the instructions on the Podback website
You can still recycle your coffee pods if you receive a communal waste and recycling collection. Simply place your filled bags in the dedicated area of the bin store or put them on top of your bins or boxes on your normal waste and recycling collection day.
You can still recycle your coffee pods if you receive a communal waste and recycling collection. Simply place your filled bags in the dedicated area of the bin store or put them on top of your bins or boxes on your normal waste and recycling collection day.
Currently there are 11 brands supporting the scheme: Nespresso, NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto, Starbucks by Nespresso, Starbucks by NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto, Tassimo, L’OR, Cru Kafe, Artisan Coffee Co, Allpress Espresso, Colonna Coffee, Café Palmieri by Jomad Coffee and Pret a Manager. Together these brands represent over three quarters of the UK market.
Podback’s ambition is to expand the programme to include all coffee pod brands using plastic or aluminium pods in the UK. If your brand is not currently a member, why not contact them and suggest they get involved?
Podback’s mission is to create simple and easy ways for people to recycle coffee pods, whatever the brand.
Currently, there are 11 brands involved in Podback and we’re keen to expand the programme so that there is a single system for pod lovers to use across the UK. We’re in active discussions about Podback membership with more brands and retailers, so that every part of the coffee pod sector is involved in the programme.
All aluminium and plastic pods from participating brands can be recycled with Podback: Nespresso, NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto, Starbucks by Nespresso, Starbucks by NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto, Tassimo, L’OR, CruKafe, Artisan Coffee Co, Allpress Espresso, Colonna Coffee, Café Palmieri by Jomad Coffee and Pret a Manager are accepted and can be recycled through the Podback programme. This includes coffee, hot chocolate and tea pods.
You can find out more on the Podback website
Yes, you can recycle any type of pods from the following brands: Nespresso, NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto, Starbucks by Nespresso, Starbucks by NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto, Tassimo, L’OR, CruKafe, Artisan Coffee Co, Allpress Espresso, Colonna Coffee, Café Palmieri by Jomad Coffee and Pret a Manager. This includes hot chocolate and tea pods.
No, the different types of pods must be kept separate so they can be sent to the correct reprocessing facility. There are two different bags, a white one for aluminium pods and a green one for plastic pods.
If you use both aluminium and plastic pods you should request both types of bags when you sign up for the service on the Podback website
No, please do not place the packaging your pods came in inside the collection bags. Check how to recycle these items locally using RECYCLE NOW LOCATOR
Missed Collections
If your pods have not been collected, please place them out for collection on the following week with your normal waste or recycling collection.
Please ensure your bags only contain coffee pods and are not filled with liquids. It may be that the crew had to leave the bags as they contained the wrong materials. If the bags do contain the wrong materials or lots of liquid, please remove these before putting them out for collection.
Household Waste and Recycling Centres
No, please do not take your pods to the Household Waste and Recycling centres. You can only recycle your coffee pods through our kerbside collection service. You can sign up to this free service at the Podback website
Podback – Ways to Recycle
Podback is working with Conwy County Borough Council and Crest Co-operative to include coffee pods as part of the household recycling service.
The Drop Off recycling returns system enables Podback to offer a service across the UK. Podback is working to increase the number of local Drop Off points to give people more options to recycle their pods.
Kerbside collections
To use the kerbside collection service residents, need to sign up and order free recycling bags from the Podback website.
No other types of bags should be used for this collection.
Aluminium and plastic coffee pods need to be kept separate as they are reprocessed at different facilities. The bags have been designed so that you can tie them easily to contain the pods and the collection team identify the types of pods and put them in the relevant container at the depot ready for reprocessing.
When you have a full bag (or bags) of used pods, please put them out for collection along with your kerbside textiles and electricals collection OR if your live in a rural area book a collection by calling Crest on 01492 596783.
Drop Off
To use the Drop Off service residents must order Collect+ bags from a Podback member brand or supporting retailer. More information on how to get a bag is available on the Podback website
These bags have been designed so that they can be easily sealed to prevent leaks when being returned via Collect+.
Collect+ bags are free; however, a delivery charge may be applied. Please follow the instructions on the Podback website.
Please be aware – these bags cannot be used for kerbside collections.
Return to store
For residents who use Nespresso coffee pods you can pick up a Nespresso recycling bag and drop these off at all Nespresso Boutique stores.
What happens to coffee pods once collected?
After collection, the coffee pods are taken to specialist reprocessing plants in the UK. The coffee grounds are removed, then the plastic and aluminium will be transformed into new products, including beverage cans, car components, building products or plastic garden furniture. The coffee grounds are processed by anaerobic digestion, which creates renewable energy (biogas) and soil improver
The recycling process takes place in the UK, so your pod doesn’t have to travel far before it’s transformed into something new. Aluminium pods are reprocessed at Tandom Metallurgical Group Ltd. in Congleton, near Stoke-on-Trent. Plastic pods are reprocessed by Bright Green Plastics in West Yorkshire.
What happens to coffee pods once collected?
After collection, the coffee pods are taken to specialist reprocessing plants in the UK. The coffee grounds are removed, then the plastic and aluminium will be transformed into new products, including beverage cans, car components, building products or plastic garden furniture. The coffee grounds are processed by anaerobic digestion, which creates renewable energy (biogas) and soil improver
The recycling process takes place in the UK, so your pod doesn’t have to travel far before it’s transformed into something new. Aluminium pods are reprocessed at Tandom Metallurgical Group Ltd. in Congleton, near Stoke-on-Trent. Plastic pods are reprocessed by Bright Green Plastics in West Yorkshire.
Environmental Impact
Podback uses different types of bags depending on the collection service – kerbside or drop off. The bags must be able to store used pods in the home without leaking, and then must be able to withstand the demands of the journey they from your household to the reprocessing plant.
The bags supplied by Podback for aluminium pods (Collect +) and kerbside collections (aluminium and plastic pods) are recycled by a facility in East Yorkshire which specialises in recycling flexible plastics, such as food wrappers and films. The facility produces plastic pellets which are used in a wide range of manufacturing industries.
The green bags used for plastic pods sent through Collect + are not currently recyclable. Due to the high moisture content in some of these pods, these bags need to be more robust and have an additional layer of material. These bags are currently baled and sent for energy recovery.
However, following successful trials in 2022, we will be introducing a new bag for plastic pods sent through Collect+, which is fully recyclable by our reprocessor in East Yorkshire. We expect that all Podback bags will be recycled in this way by early 2023.
Coffee is a very personal taste and Podback believes that every consumer should have the choice to drink it in their favourite way; whether this is through instant, roasted, ground or by using pods. Podback is focused on making this choice for consumers as sustainable as possible by offering them an easy way to recycle their coffee pods.
Nespresso has conducted life cycle analysis studies of different types of coffee, which show that that one of the biggest environmental impacts comes from the way it is prepared. These studies show that coffee pods are more sustainable compared to other methods, because they only use the exact amount of coffee beans, water and energy required to brew one cup.
However, Podback knows that more needs to be done to ensure that all pod packaging is captured and recycled, which is exactly why Podback has been launched.
Kerbside collections – There are two different bags, a white one for aluminium and green one for plastic. Aluminium and plastic pods MUST be kept separate to that they can be sent to the correct reprocessing facility. The bags help the collection team identify the types of coffee pods and put them in the relevant container at the depot ready for reprocessing.
Drop Off collections using Collect+ – There are two different Collect+ bags, a white one for aluminium and a green one for plastic. Aluminium and plastic pods MUST be kept separate to that they can be sent to the correct reprocessing facility. These have been designed with special seals to prevent any liquid leaking out when they are sent through the Collect+ system.
The carbon footprint of the service is very important to us. We are working with Podback and partners to ensure the service is as efficient as possible.