Conwy County Borough Council has become the first local authority in Wales to offer residents coffee pod recycling, as part of a new kerbside collection service. Collections will start from 26 September 2022.
Residents will be able to recycle their plastic and aluminium coffee pods at home by signing up on the Podback website from Monday 5th September. Once registered, residents will be provided with Podback recycling bags and instructions on how to use the scheme. When bags are full, residents simply put them out as normal on their fortnightly textiles and electricals kerbside collection day, which is operated by local re-use and recycling enterprise Crest Co-operative. Residents living in rural areas can book a collection by calling Crest.
Cabinet member for Neighbourhood and the Environment, Councillor Geoff Stewart says: “We are really excited about being the first authority in Wales to introduce the Podback coffee pod recycling service. Our residents are encouraged to recycle as much as possible, and our recycling rate is now at 70%. This service is being carried out by Crest, our recycling collection partner for textiles and electricals, who will be collecting the pods using their existing vehicles. Podback is funding the service, so it is cost neutral and an excellent way for us to improve our service to residents.”
Once collected, the coffee pods will be sent to specialist recycling plants within the UK[1]. The plastic and aluminium will be transformed into new products, including packaging, car components and building products, while the coffee grounds will be treated by anaerobic digestion to create soil improver and renewable energy[2]. Recycling uses less energy than manufacturing from raw materials, saving natural resources and reducing carbon emissions.
Podback’s Executive Director Rick Hindley says: “We are very excited to be launching Podback in Conwy and offering residents across the borough a convenient way to save their pods for recycling. Launching our first programme in Wales is an important landmark for Podback. Residents in Wales achieve some of the best recycling rates in the UK, so we hope the same will be true for coffee pods.
[1]Aluminium pods are reprocessed at Tandom Metallurgical Group Ltd., in Cheshire. Plastic pods are reprocessed by Bright Green Plastics in West Yorkshire.
[2] The coffee grounds are processed by local anaerobic digestion facilities produces renewable energy (biogas) and soil improver.