Frequently asked questions
Here are some of the frequently asked questions about Podback and the services we provide
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Top questions
You can find out how to recycle with Podback where you live by using our Recycle Checker
Depending on where you live, you can either recycle your pods through your local council’s household waste and recycling service or via the Podback Drop-off service.
Each Podback bag you are returning by the Yodel service requires a label.
Labels can either be downloaded and printed at home, or onto your mobile device and scanned at the Yodel stores drop off point.
To get a label to return a bag of aluminium pods please click here: FREE Podback Aluminium Returns | Yodel
To get a label to return a bag of plastic pods please click here: FREE Podback Plastic Returns | Yodel
It is important that aluminium and plastic pods are not mixed, as they are recycled at different sites. This is why the Podback bags for each material are different colours: white for aluminium and green for plastic.
If you are not sure what material your pod is made from you can check on the packaging for details, or complete our Recycle Checker and that will identify the correct bag that you need to recycle.
Different brands of pods that are made of the same material can be recycled in the same bag; it is the aluminium and plastic pods that need to be kept separate.
To update your address please log-in to your account, and click 'Close my account'.
You can then create an account with your new details.
If you have any problems with this process please Click here to contact us
Whichever service is available in your area, you need to use Podback bags to recycle your pods. The bags are designed to withstand the collection and logistics process and to help our collection partners easily identify the material your pods are made from, so that they are sent to the correct recycling plant.
If your local authority provides a Podback kerbside recycling collection you will be sent a supply of bags once you have signed up, and you can re-order bags through your online account.
Bags for the Podback Drop-Off service are available from all Podback member brands, branches of Morrisons Supermarkets, Starbucks Coffee shops and online at Ocado.com
Please use our Recycle Checker to find out which service is available in your area and follow the instructions for how to get your free bags.
If you don't have a printer, you should select the Print in Store option when arranging a label for the Yodel returns service.
You then will be emailed a barcode. At the Yodel store present this barcode to the store assistant using your mobile device. They will print the label for you for FREE.
Click here to generate a barcode to return your aluminium pod bag FREE Podback Aluminium Returns | Yodel
Click here to generate a barcode to return your plastic pod bag FREE Podback Plastic Returns | Yodel
Please remember you need a label or barcode for EACH bag you are returning
If you have had issues with scanning your drop-off label in-store please use our contact form to let us know.
Podback collects aluminium and plastic beverage pods. They are recycled in the UK, so your pod doesn’t have to travel far to become something new.
The pods are first shredded to remove the coffee and then the aluminium and plastic are reprocessed and used in the manufacture of new products.
The coffee grounds are sent for anaerobic digestion, a process that creates renewable energy (biogas) and soil improver.
The Podback bags are also recycled.
Click here to watch our video following the recycling journey of your coffee pods
Currently it is only possible to pick up and drop off Podback bags at selected branches of Costa Coffee, including all Costa in Tesco cafes.
You can find details of which cafes are involved here https://podback.org/store-locator/costa-coffee
The Podback Service
Podback is a nationwide coffee pod recycling service.
Depending on where you live, you can either recycle your pods through your local council’s household waste and recycling service or via the Podback Drop-off service.
Whichever service you use, you will need to use a Podback bag. These bags are free.
Please use our Recycle Checker to find out which Podback service is available where you live and how to get your bags.
If you are in an area with a kerbside service, you can sign up and we will send you bags and further instructions on how the service works.
The drop-off service is currently available through the Return to Yodel Stores service, which requires a returns label. These can be printed at home, or in store. Full details on how to organise a return through Yodel are available on the Drop Off page.
We are currently working to expand the network of locations where you can drop off your Podback bags, so please keep checking the Recycle Checker, as your nearest recycling point may have changed.
Whichever service is available in your area, you need to use Podback bags to recycle your pods. The bags are designed to withstand the collection and logistics process and to help our collection partners easily identify the material your pods are made from, so that they are sent to the correct recycling plant.
If your local authority provides a Podback kerbside recycling collection you will be sent a supply of bags once you have signed up, and you can re-order bags through your online account.
Bags for the Podback Drop-Off service are available from all Podback member brands, branches of Morrisons Supermarkets, Starbucks Coffee shops and online at Ocado.com
Please use our Recycle Checker to find out which service is available in your area and follow the instructions for how to get your free bags.
Not yet. Currently, our focus is on making pod recycling available to households across the UK. However, we are looking at ways that we could offer our service to businesses and are in active discussions with potential partners.
You can find out how to recycle with Podback where you live by using our Recycle Checker
Depending on where you live, you can either recycle your pods through your local council’s household waste and recycling service or via the Podback Drop-off service.
Currently, Podback is only available within the mainland UK, including Northern Ireland. However, we are not currently able to offer the service in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
We are working to expand the availability of the service, and hope to have more details available soon.
Podback collects and recycles plastic and aluminium beverage pods sold by our member brands, this includes coffee, tea, milk and hot chocolate pods.
Over 80% of pods sold in the UK can be recycled through Podback.
You can use our Recycle Checker to see if your favourite pod brand is a member of the service. If they're not listed, why not get in touch and suggest they join us?
To find out more about the Podback member brands please click here.
My Podback Account
Yes, you can. It is important that the plastic and aluminium pods are collected separately, as they are sent to different locations within the UK to be recycled.
If your household regularly uses both aluminium and plastic pods, the easiest option is to create two accounts, one for plastic and one for aluminium, using different email addresses. You can then order the appropriate bags when needed.
If you change your machine or the brand of pod you use, you can log into your online account and select 'Edit your coffee preferences' so that you receive the correct bags in future.
To update your address please log-in to your account, and click 'Close my account'.
You can then create an account with your new details.
If you have any problems with this process please Click here to contact us
Drop-Off service
To use the Yodel returns service you will need a Podback drop-off bag. These are available from Podback member brands and selected retailers, including Ocado, Morrisons Supermarkets and Starbucks Coffee Shops.
Please use our Recycle Checker to find out how to get your free bags.
Fill your bag to the dotted line, then follow the instructions to drain and seal it ready for drop off.
Each Podback bag requires a returns label.
To get a label to return a bag of aluminium pods please click here: FREE Podback Aluminium Returns | Yodel
To get a label to return a bag of plastic pods please click here: FREE Podback Plastic Returns | Yodel
If you don't have a printer, you should select the Print in Store option when arranging a label for the Yodel returns service.
You then will be emailed a barcode. At the Yodel store present this barcode to the store assistant using your mobile device. They will print the label for you for FREE.
Click here to generate a barcode to return your aluminium pod bag FREE Podback Aluminium Returns | Yodel
Click here to generate a barcode to return your plastic pod bag FREE Podback Plastic Returns | Yodel
Please remember you need a label or barcode for EACH bag you are returning
If you have had issues with scanning your drop-off label in-store please use our contact form to let us know.
If a Yodel store has refused your bags please provide details of the store you visited, along with the reason why they refused the bag. Our customer services team can then look into what has happened.
Each Podback bag you are returning by the Yodel service requires a label.
Labels can either be downloaded and printed at home, or onto your mobile device and scanned at the Yodel stores drop off point.
To get a label to return a bag of aluminium pods please click here: FREE Podback Aluminium Returns | Yodel
To get a label to return a bag of plastic pods please click here: FREE Podback Plastic Returns | Yodel
There are over 4,000 Yodel Store locations across the UK where you can drop off your Podback bags.
Your nearest Yodel Store location can be found by entering your postcode here https://www.collectplus.yodel.co.uk/store-locator/
Don't forget - every Podback bag you return through a Yodel Store needs a unique label/barcode!
To get a label to return a bag of aluminium pods please click here: FREE Podback Aluminium Returns | Yodel
To get a label to return a bag of aluminium pods please click here: FREE Podback Plastic Returns | Yodel
Local council collections
Please use our Recycle Checker to find out if there is a Podback household collection service in your local authority area, and how to get your free bags.
You will receive two rolls of Podback bags (26 bags) by post, along with an instruction leaflet. These should arrive within 7 working days.
Once you have filled your bag to the dotted line, securely tie the bag handles and put it out for collection according to your local council instructions. These can be found on the leaflet, or on the Podback page on the council's website.
Please help your crews by making sure the bags are clearly visible, securely tied and not overflowing.
You can log in to your Podback account and order more bags.
If you originally signed up for Podback before January 2023: Podback no longer automatically sends out recycling bags. Please use our recycle checker and follow the instructions to create your account.
Some local authorities do accept pods at their local household waste and recycling centres. The Recycle Checker will tell you if this is available in your area, and provide instructions on how to recycle.
We are working to increase the number of local authority recycling centres where you can recycle with Podback, so please keep checking back to find out if this service becomes available.
Please only use the bags you are supplied with for the kerbside recycling service. The drop-off bags have been designed to withstand the various stages of the logistics system from drop-off to the reprocessor. This is not a requirement for household collections provided through local authorities.
Please use our Recycle Checker to find out if the household collection service is available in your area, and follow the steps to order your free Podback recycling bags.
If you have received a Podback bag with a new machine or pod order, or have recently changed from Drop-Off to household collections, your local authority will accept the drop-off bag as a one-off; but we ask you to sign up for the household collections so you can put out the correct bags in future.
If you put any other non-Podback bag out for kerbside collection it will not be picked up by your Council.
If you have a large number of Drop-Off bags which you now don't need, why not pass them on to a friend or family member and encourage them to recycle with Podback?
Please contact your local council's waste and recycling team to notify them of any missed collections.
Details of local councils offering Podback collections at Household Waste and Recycling Centres (HWRCs) can be found here.
No Podback bags are required to recycle at the Recycling Centres. You can save pods in any bag or container.
- Please save aluminium and plastic pods separately so that they can be sent to the correct recycling plant.
- At the Recycling Centre there will be clearly marked Podback containers. Tip your pods loose into the relevant container.
- Please do not put plastic bags or pod packaging in with your pods, either reuse it or ask Recycling Centre staff how to recycle soft plastics.
Costa Coffee Trial 2024
Podback and Costa Coffee are currently trialling a service where customers will be able to pick up a Podback bag from their barista, and drop filled Podback bags back for recycling.
We hope that the trial will be extended to more Costa cafes later in the year.
Podback’s service is funded by most, but not all, coffee pod brands sold in the UK. This includes Costa Coffee pods for Nespresso, Tassimo and NESCAFE Dolce Gusto machines.
Plese click here for a full list of Podback member brands.
We are currently trialling the Podback service in selected branches of Costa Coffee. We'll review the customer feedback and insights we receive, in addition to the number of pods collected, to help evaluate its success.
Currently it is only possible to pick up and drop off Podback bags at selected branches of Costa Coffee, including all Costa in Tesco cafes.
You can find details of which cafes are involved here https://podback.org/store-locator/costa-coffee
Yes, you can still hand in the red Costa capsule recycling bags at any Costa Coffee store, including the ones participating in the Podback trial.
You can find details of Costa Coffee stores participating in the Podback trial here: https://podback.org/store-locator/costa-coffee
Please only use either a Costa or a Podback pod recycling bag to return your pods for recycling. You can ask your barista for a bag.
Please only use a Podback bag to save your pods. Your barista will not be able to accept pods in other bags.
The aluminium and plastic pods are recycled at different sites, and so the different coloured bags help to easily identify the pods so they go to the correct recycling facility.
Please fill the bag to the dotted line, and follow the instructions to drain and seal your bag before bringing it back for recycling.
Podback bags
Podback collects aluminium and plastic coffee pods for recycling. The Podback bags for aluminium pods are white and the plastic pod recycling bags are green.
Aluminium and plastic pods are recycled at different sites, so the different coloured bags help collection crews and logistics partners to easily identify and separate the pods so that they go to the correct recycling facility.
Podback collects pods in two different collection systems: local authority collection and Drop-Off. These require two different types of bag, to ensure the pods make it through the recycling journey from your home to the recycling plant.
The drop off service sends pods for recycling through the postal/parcel system using Yodel, so the bags need to be robust enough to ensure the contents do not escape or leak during transportation. This is not a requirement of the local authority collections.
When you use our recycle checker, we ask you what type and brand of pod you use so that we can supply you with the correct recycling bags to suit your pods and details of the service available where you live.
Please enter your details on the recycle checker, if your local council offers a Podback service you can create an account and order your free recycling bags.
Your order will include two rolls of bags (26 bags in total), which is a six month supply for a typical household.
It is important that aluminium and plastic pods are not mixed, as they are recycled at different sites. This is why the Podback bags for each material are different colours: white for aluminium and green for plastic.
If you are not sure what material your pod is made from you can check on the packaging for details, or complete our Recycle Checker and that will identify the correct bag that you need to recycle.
Different brands of pods that are made of the same material can be recycled in the same bag; it is the aluminium and plastic pods that need to be kept separate.
Podback uses different types of bags depending on the collection service – household collection or drop-off. The bags must be able to store used pods in your home and then must be able to withstand the demands of the journey from your household to the reprocessing plant.
Podback bags are recycled by a facility in Yorkshire that 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.
Recycling bags are available from Podback member brands, you can add them to your online order on their webshop.
You can also pick up a bag from the customer services desk at Morrisons Supermarkets, at branches of Starbucks and you can add them to your online shop at Ocado.com when you buy Podback member brand pods.
Please use our Recycle Checker to find out the options in your area.
The number of pods your Podback bag will hold depends on the brand or type of pods you use.
Please fill the recycling bag up to the dotted line.
As a guide, a Podback drop-off bag will usually hold the following:
-
Nespresso original/compatible pods - 150
-
Nespresso Vertuo Pods - 65
-
Tassimo T-Disks – 60
-
NESCAFE Dolce Gusto pods – 45
-
Illy Iperespresso pods – 120
There is no need to empty your pods, but please drain any remaining liquid from them before putting them in your recycling bag.
Coffee grains are removed at the recycling facility and treated by anaerobic digestion to create renewable energy (biogas) and soil improver.
Click here to watch our short film which shows how your pods are recycled
Pod recycling journey
Podback collects aluminium and plastic beverage pods. They are recycled in the UK, so your pod doesn’t have to travel far to become something new.
The pods are first shredded to remove the coffee and then the aluminium and plastic are reprocessed and used in the manufacture of new products.
The coffee grounds are sent for anaerobic digestion, a process that creates renewable energy (biogas) and soil improver.
The Podback bags are also recycled.
Click here to watch our video following the recycling journey of your coffee pods
Podback uses different types of bags depending on the collection service – household collection or drop-off. The bags must be able to store used pods in your home and then must be able to withstand the demands of the journey from your household to the reprocessing plant.
Podback bags are recycled by a facility in Yorkshire that 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.
Our recycling process takes place within the UK.
Aluminium pods are shredded to remove the coffee and then reprocessed in Cheshire. Plastic pods are shredded to remove the coffee and then reprocessed in Yorkshire.
Each reprocessor sends the coffee grounds to a local anaerobic digestion facility, where they are processed to become renewable energy (biogas) for the National Grid and a soil improver for local farmers.
Podback bags are also recycled by a specialist plastic film recycling company in Yorkshire.
You can watch a video of the recycling journey of your coffee pods on our YouTube channel.
Podback is passionate about creating a circular economy and we are working with our partners to ensure that all elements of the process are efficient and minimise waste as much as possible.
The Podback service helps divert coffee grounds and valuable resources which might otherwise end up in landfill or Energy from Waste.