Your Guide to Recycling K-Cups, Single-Serve Pods and Capsules

For those of us who are environmentally-conscious, brewing coffee at home with certain K-Cups, single-serve pods or capsules doesn’t exactly line up with our green beliefs. However, for those who love the convenience of K-Cups and other single-serve pods, there are ways to recycle with a little effort.

Most k-cups and other capsules are mostly made up of aluminum or plastic, and depending on the brand and manufacturer of your coffee, some might be recyclable and some may not be. To check, look for a recycling symbol on the bottom of the pod.

Keurig K-Cups 
Historically, Keurig has received the most criticism from environmentalists when it comes to recycling practices, considering up until 2016, the only way to recycle K-Cups was to separate its components. However, some K-Cups are now made out of polypropylene and the company is on the road to making all of its pods recyclable by 2020. For now, all K-Mug, K-Carafe, and Vue pods, as well as Green Mountain Breakfast Blend and Green Mountain Breakfast Blend Decaf K-Cups are recyclable.

Dolce Gusto
Dolce Gusto pods are also not technically recyclable, but there are ways to get around that. By separating the individual components, you can recycle each part of the pod. Nestle Dolce Gusto capsules Nescafe Dolce Gusto Capsules are made out of #1 and #5 plastics, so separating the pods into each category and recycling from there should make drinking Dolce Gusto coffee capsules more sustainable.

Tassimo T-Discs
Tassimo T-Disc single-serve pods are compatible with Tassimo brewing systems and are recyclable pods. The process of recycling is simple; just remove the foil, filter and coffee grounds and you’re good to go. For those looking for sustainable coffee options, we proudly carry a wide selection of Tassimo coffee products to suit a wide range of tastes.