How to Recycle Coffee Pods - 9 Creative Ways to Recycle Coffee Pods
If coffee pods or Nespresso pods are part of your daily routine, chances are you regularly have a lot of empty pods sitting in your trash. Convenience shouldn't come at the cost of our beautiful planet. Now you can have your coffee pods and recycle them too!
Instead of leaving them for a landfill, you can recycle coffee pods in the traditional sense or use them in a variety of ways around the house. We've put together this handy guide featuring recycled coffee pods ideas to give you all of the information you need about coffee pods and Nespresso recycling.
Are Coffee Pods Recyclable?
Can coffee pods be recycled? Yes! Thankfully, many coffee pods are recyclable in the traditional sense, meaning they can be recycled in the same manner as other plastics and metals. Even some coffee pods that are labeled non-recyclable can be responsibly recycled in both traditional and non-traditional ways. Most coffee pods contain four materials: plastic, aluminum, a paper filter and organic material in the form of coffee grounds. All four materials can generally be separated, sorted and recycled responsibly.
If you choose not to recycle these pods on your own, there are still two other methods of recycling available to you. For those who can't recycle certain plastics or metals in their counties or towns, online resources can help you locate the recycling centers closest to you. There are also many companies, including coffee pod manufacturers themselves, to whom you can mail in your used coffee pods so that they can recycle them for you.
Although these products can be recycled, they must be disposed of properly. One of the problems that arises is that some users will either throw the coffee pods in the trash without attempting to recycle it or throw the entire pod into the recycling bin without sorting it properly. Both of these approaches cause problems, potentially resulting in the pod not being recycled at all. Thankfully, you can easily prevent this issue by learning how to recycle your coffee pods and Nespresso pods properly and responsibly.
How to Recycle Coffee Pods
Although coffee pods are non-biodegradable, that doesn't mean they need to sit in a landfill forever. There are many different ways you can recycle your used coffee pods and Nespresso pods. Manufacturers are continuing to refine their product designs to create pods that are recyclable or compostable. Some of these companies even allow you to drop off pods at collection sites or have them picked up or mailed from your home. They shred the pods, recycle the aluminum and compost the grounds for you.
To begin recycling coffee pods in your home, you first must understand that each coffee pod is different. Some pods are made from a polypropylene plastic which is also referred to as number 5 plastic. Plastics numbered 1 through 6 are each unique, plastic featuring the number 7 represents all plastics other than 1 through 6. Many towns allow you to recycle number 5 plastic, but few accept number 7 plastics. If your town doesn't accept all forms of aluminum, you may have to throw away foil tops.
Although these companies are trying to create more eco-friendly products, some pods have yet to be 100 percent recyclable. To recycle those made with a number 5 plastic, you need to remove the coffee grounds, peel the aluminum top off and remove the filter before recycling the plastic. Pods made with number 7 plastic may require the use of a sharp edge to separate the components.
Thankfully, not every coffee pods requires time or effort to recycle properly. Recycling Real Good Coffee Co. pods is as easy as cool, peel, empty, recycle. All of our single-serve pods are made with 100 percent recyclable materials.
How You Can Recycle Our Pods in Seconds
- Cool It! After you've finished brewing, allow the pod to cool completely before you touch it.
- Peel It! Take the pod out and remove the foil lid. This lid can be thrown into your aluminum recyclable bin without any extra steps.
- Empty It! Get all of the used coffee grounds out of the pod. While you could scoop these out over the sink or trash can, we suggest gathering the grounds together and recycling them into your compost.
- Recycle It! Throw our plastic filter and pod into your recyclable plastic bin. Not only are you fueled up and ready to go, but you've also helped save the planet all before lunch!
Keep in mind, no matter which coffee pods or coffee pod you use, you must always abide by your local recycling and composting guidelines. Just as throwing recyclables into the trash is irresponsible, placing incorrect items in your recycling bins is also a bad idea. If you're interested in making sure your coffee pods are recycled and put to good use, why not use them around your own home? Believe it or not, there are dozens of fun and functional ways you can repurpose used coffee pods.
9 Creative Ways to Recycle Used Coffee Pods
Responsible recycling is a great household habit to have, and with the support of your town's recycling centers and coffee pod manufacturers, thousands upon thousands of these coffee pods components can be recycled into other products without ever getting trapped in a landfill. But what do you do if your area lacks the resources necessary to recycle these items properly? Instead of dumping your pods in the trash, we suggest you find creative ways to use the empty coffee pods and Nespresso pods at home.
At Real Good Coffee Co., we care deeply for our planet — after all, it's the wonders of nature that provide us with the delicious coffee beans that become our brew. That's why we make sure that every single-serve coffee pod that we produce is made with 100 percent recyclable materials. If you're looking for a new way to recycle or if you have coffee pods that cannot be traditionally recycled, there are still plenty of ways to reuse them. Here are ten of our favorite:
#1 Create a Bath Bomb
You use your coffee to wake up and feel revitalized — let the coffee pod itself help you relax and recharge. It's super easy to create a mold for a bath bomb using coffee pods. This DIY trick can create weeks' worth of bath bombs in a few minutes. First, if your coffee pods has a filter, make sure you remove it. Then, add all of the bath bomb ingredients into the empty cup and let them set overnight. Remove the mix from the pod, and it's ready for bath time!
#2: Make Frozen Coffee Pods Treats
Coffee pods are perfect tools for making frozen treats within hours. Of course, the coolest concoction to make is ice cubes made from your leftover fresh coffee. You can also put juice into a coffee pods with a popsicle stick and make delightful popsicles for your family. Looking to really get creative in the kitchen? You can freeze chopped herbs and butter to use next time you cook on the stovetop. For an adult-twist on coffee pods recycling, use them to make jello shots.
#3: Easy Holders for Sorting Change
Who doesn't have a large container of spare change somewhere around the house? Eventually, you're going to need to sort and change those coins into bills. Grab your coffee pods and let them help you sort. Keep a coffee pods in the laundry room and near wherever you place your keys so you can easily remove all loose pocket change and prevent it from building up in one area. Sorting coins is also a fun and educational activity for young children to help you with.
#4: Let Kids Use Coffee Pods However Their Imagination Sees Fit
Sometimes, the best coffee pods uses are ones you haven't thought of yet — but your children will surely have their own ideas! After checking to make sure the used coffee pods are clean and not broken, feel free to give them to your kids and watch them play. They are also perfect for water tables, sandboxes and bath time! Teach them how to stack coffee pods to make cool structures. You can even create a miniature bowling alley with a small ball and coffee pods as pins.
#5: Create Dazzling String Lights
String lights can really transform a space. Whether you're using them in your outdoor entertaining area, in your child's bedroom or even just for the holiday season, string lights are fantastic and festive additions you can use many places in or around your home. Simply cut a hole in the bottom of your coffee pods and string the lights through. You can make plenty of other cool decorations for any time of the year with additional coffee pods, such as a minimalist wreath, advent calendar or ornaments.
#6: Recycling Coffee Pods as Seed Starters
What better way to recycle your coffee pods than than by using them out in your garden? You can quickly turn a coffee pod into a seed starter. Add a base layer of garden soil into the cup followed by the seeds of your choice. Then, top the cup off with more soil and plant it in your garden. Be sure to water these cups regularly and give them adequate sunlight. Of course, you can also add coffee grounds to your soil too, as they make great fertilizer and mulch.
#7: Used Coffee Pods for Office Organization
An organized office is an efficient office. Take a look around your desk and discover how many areas are cluttered with miscellaneous supplies. Although coffee pods might not make for great pen holders, they can still contain the small items that are just as necessary. Dedicate one cup for push pins or tacks and another cup for paperclips. These are also great resources for a creative's at-home office, as they can store craft items like safety pins, sequins, beads, buttons and more.
#8: Coffee Pods Craft Ideas
Adults aren't the only ones who can reuse coffee pods for their daily activities. These small pods make great tools for children's crafts and are especially effective at curbing messes. For instance, you can use a dozen small coffee pods for different paint colors without wasting or spilling bottles of paint. You can also fill them with glue, glitter or other messy substances to keep them contained.
#9: Use Coffee Pods for Meals
While you may not want to use a coffee pods as a precise method of measurement while cooking or preparing food, having a single-serve cup available is quite handy. Fill these empty cups with ketchup, mustard or other condiments when you serve foods like fries or chicken nuggets. These are especially useful when portioning out sauces for children's meals.
Not sure if you want to keep so many empty coffee pods around your home? You can also collect them and donate them to facilities that can recycle them in creative ways. Schools, art centers and science centers may find uses for coffee pods. Ask around to friends and family to discover who might need these great recyclable tools. If your office has a machine that uses coffee pods, you could also suggest that your coworkers place them in a dedicated box to be recycled periodically.
Recycling coffee pods doesn't need to be difficult, inconvenient or costly. With a minimal amount of effort and imagination, you can discover unlimited ways to reuse these pods. It doesn't matter how you use them, as long as it's safe, environmentally responsible and prevents them from sitting in a landfill.
Recycle Your Real Good Coffee Coffee Pods
At Real Good Coffee Co., we care about the environment and the people who drink our coffee. All of our single-serve pods full of coffee roasted fresh in Seattle are made with 100 percent recyclable materials. We choose to provide real good coffee to real good people, and we believe that we share in the responsibility of preserving our planet.
We encourage all of our customers to practice responsible recycling habits and reuse or recycle all of their coffee pods — those manufactured by Real Good Coffee Co. as well as any other coffee pods you may use. Shop our recyclable Coffee Pods today!
