Do you enjoy a cup of coffee at home, maybe you have a coffee machine that takes coffee pods? Let me introduce you to a new free recycling scheme ‘Podback’.

Podback was created to give lovers of pod coffee simple and convenient ways to recycle, and is funded by the coffee manufacturers and supermarkets, but they have changed their funding of the schemes.

Until recently you could download a label from the Podback website and drop your pods off locally to be recycled. So, how can you recycle your coffee pods now? They are all detailed on the Podback website. Here is a resume:

Nespresso
Recycle your capsules through Nespresso’s partnership with Royal Mail, with two convenient options. Doorstep Collection: Schedule a pick-up from your doorstep. Drop off: Download a QR Code and take your Podback bag to any of 14,000+ Royal Mail locations.

Tassimo and all other coffee pods
The free Yodel returns service is no longer be available. You will need to use the Podback.org website Recycle Checker to find your nearest local drop-off location, the only option open to you now. What this means is the nearest drop off points are Tesco Burgess Hill, Lewes or Horsham or Asda in Crawley or Brighton.

Podback does work with local authorities, over 200 local authorities, and if you live in Horsham or Chichester Council areas then all your Coffee pods can be recycled as part of the councils kerbside service, for free. Why can’t Mid Sussex District Council provide this service? Do ask your local District Councillor why not. Let’s see if we can get our council to provide this free service.

Recycling home

Foil can be used for many things, mostly though, it’s used in cooking and especially with the use of oil, it can end up with baked on residues of food and grease. So, how do we recycle it?

With foil if you can scrape off as much food waste as possible either by crinkling it or scrapping it with your fingernail. Small amounts will be okay. If there are large amounts, just cut them out and pop the really damaged foil into your black top rubbish bin.

Like aluminium cans, aluminium foil is made from bauxite, a natural mineral found in the planet in great abundance. And like aluminium cans, aluminium foil is 100% recyclable - and a valuable recyclable material as it doesn’t lose any quality during the recycling process.

Do scrunch all your foil, big and small, into a ball until it is the size of a tennis ball, but the bigger the better.

Our dependency on oil and bauxite is reduced since recycling one ton of aluminium saves 40 barrels of oil. As you know we ask for all your recycling to be Clean Dry and Loose. Regarding clean, the main issue is that if a soiled item is put into your recycling bin it will contaminate other items in your bin or the bin lorry. If you put a half full tin of baked beans in your recycling bin (it does happen!!) then the beans will contaminate the paper, cardboard and plastics in your bin, and the rest of the bin lorry when it is collected. So as long as when you run your fingers over the foil there is no grease that will contaminate the rest of your recycling bin then it will be OK.

Home coffee pods

Recycling home

Aluminium foil

Recycling home