Residents from Bracknell Forest, Reading and Wokingham Boroughs can now recycle their aluminium and plastic coffee pods at Recycling Centres operated by re31. Residents must book a slot prior to their visit using re3's click and tip service. Podback recycling containers will be clearly signed. The pods need to be emptied loose into the appropriate aluminium or plastic pod container. Bags and other packaging must not be included.
Once collected, the coffee pods will be sent to specialist recycling plants in the UK. The pods are shredded to remove the coffee, and the plastic and aluminium used to create new products, including packaging, car components and building products. The coffee grounds will be treated by anaerobic digestion to create renewable energy (biogas) and soil improver.
In a joint statement re3 Joint Waste Disposal Board Members: Cllr Karen Rowland, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Councillor for Environmental Services and Community Safety and Chairman of the Joint Waste Disposal Board; Cllr Helen Purnell, Executive Member for the Environment and Community Cohesion and Cllr Ian Shenton, Wokingham Borough Council’s Executive Member for Environment, Sport and Leisure commented:
“We are really excited to be working with Podback to introduce another recycling stream at the Recycling Centres for residents. Coffee drinkers can now enjoy their coffee knowing their pods can be recycled and go on to be made into new products, renewable energy and soil improver.”
Podback Executive Director Rick Hindley says: “It’s great to be able to expand the Podback service to residents in the re3 partnership area. We want to make coffee pod recycling as easy as possible and this new service enables residents to drop off pods when convenient, alongside other recyclables helping to reduce waste and increase recycling.”
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1. re3 is a waste management partnership between Bracknell Forest, Reading and Wokingham Borough Councils and FCC Environment. The partnership’s aims are to develop solutions for the management of waste in Central Berkshire and to encourage people to reduce, reuse and recycle more of their waste.