How are coffee capsules recycled?

According to Cafés Novell, 7 out of 10 households in Spain use a capsule coffee machine. Although compostable capsules exist, the vast majority are made of aluminium and contain the coffee inside. They come in different shapes, as there are machines that work with different types of capsule.

These figures reflect the huge number of capsules that can be used in a single day and end up as waste. The best way to recycle is not to generate the waste in the first place, so we recommend choosing ground coffee, which is also cheaper. There is another alternative: compostable capsules, which contain materials that can biodegrade in a short period, leave no visible or toxic waste and turn into compost.

Even so, if you prefer single-use aluminium capsule machines, it is important to recycle them properly. Below we explain the best option for recycling this product, and you will also find out which ones to avoid.

Collection points

Every municipality has Green Points (“deixalleries” in Catalonia) open to all citizens, where you can take your used coffee capsules to be recycled. Many of the companies that make coffee machines and capsules have realised how hard these products are to recycle, so they are launching initiatives to reduce the harm they cause to the environment. For example, Nespresso collects and recycles used capsules, so you can take them to its shops when you buy new ones. Some supermarkets, such as Mercadona or Eroski, also have containers where you can drop them.

The non-profit organisation Circularcaps manages a collective collection and recycling system for used coffee capsules. You can check the map to find the collection points. This is the best option of all those mentioned, and it is important to locate the shops, supermarkets and green points in your municipality so that the capsules can be recycled.

Reuse them

The most creative way to recycle: empty the capsules into the organic waste bin and use them for crafts. You can make candle holders, necklaces, a string of lights, frames… anything you can imagine. Even so, it is not the most sustainable option: if you add outside materials to the capsules, they stop being recyclable.

What we do recommend are reusable, refillable metal capsules that you can fill with coffee yourself. They are compatible with several machines and can be used for years.

Neither leftovers nor packaging

This is the route most people choose, but it is not the right one. Capsules are not considered packaging but food waste, so they do not belong in the yellow bin’s recycling process. Capsules thrown in this bin cause puddles of coffee residue to form on the loading dock where the collection lorries are emptied. In addition, when the aluminium is compressed for recycling, the coffee grounds are squeezed out under high pressure, dirty the surroundings and cannot be recycled.

The alternative others choose is the grey bin, since the capsule is not considered packaging and contains aluminium and food residue. These bins are used for all waste that is not recycled, but they cannot be used for composting. So capsules put in the yellow or grey bin do not end up being recycled. That is why the most sustainable way to get them recycled is the Green Point.

Now that you know special collection points are the most sustainable option, recycle your capsules and do your bit, or your bean, for the planet!