Brew up a greener future

West Berkshire Council, in partnership with Veolia and Podback, the pod recycling service, have added used aluminium and plastic coffee pods to the items collected at both Newtown Road and Padworth Recycling Centres in West Berkshire.

All you need to do is collect up all your used coffee, tea, and hot chocolate pods at home until you are ready to take them to the Recycling Centres, where they should be emptied loose into the appropriate aluminium or plastic Podback container.

Plastic and aluminium pods need to be collected separately, as they are recycled at different facilities. All the pods collected by Podback are recycled in the UK ^[1]. They are shredded to remove the coffee, then the plastic and aluminium are 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 ^[2].

To use the Recycling Centres, you must hold a valid permit and book a slot prior to their visit which can be done here: www.westberks.gov.uk/clickandtip. The Podback containers are clearly signed. Bags and other packaging must not be included.

Welcoming the introduction of the new pod recycling collections, Cllr Stuart Gourley, Executive Member for Environment at West Berkshire Council, said:

"We are excited to be working with Podback to introduce another recycling stream at the Recycling Centres for residents. Coffee, tea, and hot chocolate drinkers can now enjoy their hot beverages knowing their plastic or aluminium pods can be recycled and go on to be made into new products, renewable energy, and improve the soil.

"At West Berkshire Council, we are always looking for innovative ways to respond to the climate emergency. Every change helps and it also allows residents the opportunity to take a more active role in tackling the climate emergency and to put more of their waste in its place."

Rick Hindley, Executive Director at Podback said:

"It's great to be able to expand the Podback service to West Berkshire Council's Recycling Centres. We want to make pod recycling as easy as possible, and this new service enables residents to drop off pods when convenient, alongside other recyclables, and help to reduce waste and increase recycling."

Dave Matthews, General Manager Veolia West Berkshire said:

"Veolia is very pleased to be adding another additional service at our Household Waste and Recycling Centres. Working in Partnership with West Berkshire Council, Veolia is committed to increasing our recycling services for residents across the district, and alongside our recently launched paint reuse scheme and a vape recycling service, this is another positive step forward."

Notes

_{^[1]Aluminium pods are reprocessed in Cheshire. Plastic pods are reprocessed in East Yorkshire.}

_{^[2] The coffee grounds are processed by anaerobic digestion facilities, producing renewable energy (biogas) and soil improver.}