Coffee Pod Recycling Options
Check With Your Local Municipality
Not all municipalities will accept coffee pod plastic. Currently there is no universal recycling standard in the U.S. market and each recycling facility maintains its own material capture equipment, policies and procedures. It is becoming more common for local towns and cities to accept all types of plastic as part of their curbside or office pickup. If your local facility does not accept all types of plastic, there are alternatives listed below.
Earth911.com
- If your local recycling center can’t take the separated pod plastic, search in your larger regional area using the “Recycle Search” at Earth 911.com.
- Collect a large quantity and drop them off once or twice a year.
- Consider starting a collection box at your school or in your community for the used pod plastic.
Why Recycle?
When each one of us contributes in a small way to living in a more sustainable community, our collective efforts can show the real Power of Recycling. Recycling conserves our natural resources like forests, water and minerals, protecting and preserving the planet for our children. It reduces the waste that builds up in our landfills and goes into incinerators. Recycling also reduces the production of greenhouse gases caused by the extraction and processing of raw materials. This saves energy by reducing the need to extract and process those raw materials. Please do your small part to help.
How to Compost Coffee Pods
When deciding how to dispose of their coffee pods responsibly, many people may wonder, “Are there compostable K-Cups®?” While there are not currently any fully compostable Keurig® pods on the market today, the grounds and paper filter inside a standard coffee pod can be composted easily. Simply use the Recycle a Cup® cutter to separate the pod’s individual components. Then, refer to the resources above to find the best way to recycle the K-Cup’s® plastic and aluminum parts. The paper filter and remaining coffee grounds can then be added to your compost pile.
Don’t worry if you don’t have an existing composting setup – creating one is simple. All you’ll need are red worms, a mound of dirt, and space to place the pile. If your home doesn’t have accessible outdoor space, you can use a plastic bin to house the dirt. Or, if you have a backyard but don’t want to invest in composting supplies, simply bury your used grounds and paper filters in your yard or garden and let nature handle the rest.
Why Compost Your Coffee Grounds?
If you’re looking for K-Cup® sustainable alternatives, composting is an ideal choice. However, sustainability isn’t the only benefit – Keurig® waste compost also helps improve the soil quality in your garden. This is because when the coffee grounds are broken down, they release a variety of nutrients (including nitrogen) into the soil. These nutrients make the soil more fertile, which enhances your overall gardening environment.
