Here’s how you can recycle coffee pods in Lancaster and Morecambe with new free service

Podback is a nationwide, not-for-profit, coffee pod recycling service.

Created by the biggest names in coffee pod systems, Nespresso, NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto and Tassimo, to give people who enjoy the quality and taste of coffee pods simple and easy ways to recycle them.

Lancaster City Council is supporting this new recycling service, enabling Lancaster and Morecambe residents to recycle coffee pods every fortnight, as part of the normal kerbside recycling collections.

Look out for leaflets through the door.

These will give further details of the scheme and how to register.

Please note: If you live in a property that shares communal bins collection, you will be provided with a clearly labelled container for Podback bags next to your recycling bins.

If there is no Podback container please email the Recycling Team at Lancaster City Council.

How to recycle your coffee pods

Register for the Podback recycling service at https://www.podback.org/ and order your free recycling bags

Podback will send two rolls of recycling bags, along with an instruction leaflet.

Each roll contains 13 bags for recycling aluminium or plastic coffee pods.

Bags are sent by Royal Mail and should arrive within seven – 10 working days.

Once the bags have been received, fill them as instructed.

Place the bag(s) on the lid of the recycling bin/box by 7am on the normal recycling collection day.

To top up supply of recycling bags log into the account on the Podback website and reorder.

Sign up to Podback

What types of coffee pods can be recycled?

Plastic and aluminium pods for coffee, tea, hot chocolate and milk can be recycled using Podback collection bags.

When signing up at https://www.podback.org/ you’ll be asked what brand of pods you use.

This is so you get the correct bag – white bags for aluminium pods, green bags for plastic pods.

The two materials need to be collected separately as they are sent to different recycling facilities.

What happens to the pods once collected?

The coffee pods recycled with Podback are taken to specialist aluminium and plastics reprocessing plants in the UK.

The coffee grounds are removed, and the plastic and aluminium are then transformed into new products, including beverage cans, car components, plastic garden furniture and building products.

The coffee grounds are used to create renewable energy (biogas) and soil improver.

To find out more about the service, and if you can recycle your brand of pods, see the frequently asked questions page or visit the website at https://www.podback.org/