Podback’s Partnership Development Executive Paddy Pope answers some of the questions he is frequently asked by recycling teams
What does a kerbside service for coffee pods look like, and what is the local authority responsible for?
Each scheme is tailored to suit the local authority’s existing service. Typically, we develop a 12-week launch campaign: Households are encouraged to sign up for the new service on our website, and are sent a supply of material-specific bags and an explanatory leaflet.
The local authority is responsible for collecting the bags. Some collect using a cage on their RCV, some have spare capacity in kerbside-sort vehicles and others chose to collect pods alongside materials, such as WEEE and textiles, in a separate vehicle. Collected pods are stored in containers provided by Podback, and we arrange onward logistics to the reprocessors.
What is the financial cost to a local authority?
The simple answer to this question, is “zero”:
Podback is cost-neutral to the authority. Any capital and operational expense - such as vehicle modifications, additional staff costs, communications and website alterations - are identified, and renumeration agreed between the authority and Podback.
Our recycling team is very busy: How much extra work is involved?
We work closely with each authority’s recycling and communications teams throughout the development and launch process to ensure they are fully supported throughout. This continues post-launch – it is all about building a successful partnership.
Is there enough demand to warrant a service in our authority?
1.2 billion pods are sold in the UK every year [1], and 30% of households own a coffee pod machine. A recent survey of pod consumers [2] revealed that 36% used pods every day. Our daily website traffic also indicates a high demand for pod collections, with thousands of searches coming from all over the UK.
What are the benefits to the local authority?
Because of their size, weight and the coffee contained within them, pods are not suited to conventional recycling collection and sorting facilities. Partnering with Podback demonstrates to residents you are committed to finding solutions for “hard-to-recycle” materials.
Promoting a new service helps to highlight and remind residents about all the recycling services already available to them; and being able to offer another service at no additional cost is also a good news story.
Pods are not classed as packaging so do not fall under the jurisdiction of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). However, partnering with Podback allows local authorities to experience the principles of EPR in practice, and work with leading consumer brands.
What is the longevity of Podback?
The founding Podback brands, Nespresso, NESCAFE Dolce Gusto and Tassimo, have made a commitment to developing an accessible and convenient recycling solution for plastic and aluminium pods. Since Podback launched last May, the number of coffee brand members has grown to 16, and the programme has attracted the support of major online and high street retailers, making it increasingly representative of the whole sector.
What happens to the pods?
All pods collected by Podback are reprocessed in the UK. Aluminium pods are sent to Cheshire. They are shredded to remove the coffee, then remelted. The metal is used by manufacturers of beverage cans and automotive components.
Plastic pods go to Yorkshire: Following removal of the coffee they are reprocessed to create a polymer, which is used to make products for the building sector.
The coffee grounds are sent to anaerobic digestion, creating biogas and soil improver.
What feedback have you had from the local authority partners?
The feedback we have received has been overwhelmingly positive. Why not join our webinar in September, when two local authorities will be sharing their experience of Podback?
You can register here Registration (gotowebinar.com)
[1] Neilson Total Coffee Database
[2] Survey of 2,032 pod consumers conducted for Podback in June 2022 by Resource Futures
