Making coffee pod recycling more accessible is the aim of the game following Morrisons’ decision to roll out the Podback take-back scheme across its UK store estate.
The grocer will place collection points in more than 350 stores nationwide in partnership with the coffee pod recycling service, starting in June.
Consumers can already pick up free Podback coffee pod recycling bags from Morrisons customer service desks, but as the collection points are introduced they will also be able to drop off filled bags of used pods in these shops.
In 2022, Morrisons started supporting Podback by offering free coffee pod recycling bags in its stores – it then started a trial of in-store collection points in July 2023. Although it was initially supposed to run for eight weeks, the initiative was extended due to its popularity with customers, prompting plans for the national roll-out.
According to Podback, up until the end of March this year, trial stores had collected more than 42,300kg of pods, or an average of 37kg per store each week.
Zara Safdari, waste & sustainability manager at Morrisons, commented: “Coffee pods have continued to grow in popularity over recent years, with many household brands now offering a variety of pods to brew fresh coffee in minutes at home.
“Picking up Podback bags while doing a supermarket shop and dropping them back, filled, on further shopping trips makes it easy for consumers to recycle their used coffee pods. We’re pleased to be extending this service to make it even easier for our customers who want barista style coffee at home to recycle their used pods.”
Rick Hindley, executive director at Podback, added: “The in-store drop-off trial proved an immediate success with recyclers, and the volume of pods collected through the trial has continued to grow month on month.
“Podback is committed to making pod recycling simple and convenient for lovers of pod coffee, and adding a national supermarket to our network of free recycling points is a major step forward towards our goal.”
Podback says the used aluminium and plastic pods are recycled in the UK – in Cheshire and east Yorkshire respectively. The coffee grounds are processed by anaerobic digestion facilities, producing renewable energy or biogas and soil improver.
The processed aluminium is used in the manufacture of beverage cans and car components, while the plastic is used in the manufacture of a range of items, including packaging crates and building products, according to Podback.
[image credit: Green Retail World]
