What would you like to Recycle?

Coffee Pods

coffee pod; coffee pods; k-cups; disposable coffee pod
Coffee Pods
Residential single-use coffee pods can be recycled for free through the provincial Recycle BC program. In the Capital Region this is available through the curbside blue box recycling program as well as some drop off locations.

Single-use coffee pods are recyclable with your containers in your blue box or container recycling bin, once the top and coffee grounds have been removed. For more information how to, from Recycle BC, check out: Recycling Single-Use Coffee Pods

Reduce | Reuse | Recycle | Facilities

How do I go green?

The best way to enjoy coffee is to not use single serve coffee pods. Brew coffee in a good old fashioned coffee maker instead. Single-use coffee pods have a significant negative environmental impact.

Due to the single use nature of this product, there is very little way to reuse the component parts after the initial use.

Residential single-use coffee pods are accepted in the curbside blue box recycling program and for free at Recycle BC Depots found here.

Coffee pods must be deconstructed to ensure recyclable and compostable material (banned from disposal in the garbage) are diverted from garbage. Several steps are required to ensure proper disposal for the plastic cup and possibly the foil lid to be recycled and the coffee grounds composted.

The coffee grounds: The coffee grounds can go into your backyard compost or curbside kitchen scraps collection program. Coffee grounds are banned from disposal as garbage as part of the 2015 kitchen scraps landfill restriction.

The coffee liner: There are at least two kinds of liners for coffee pods; a re-useable plastic one and a paper one. The paper liner can be composted and would be accepted in curbside kitchen scraps collection programs. The plastic liner is garbage.

The plastic cup: If you recycle through the curbside blue box program, the empty, clean plastic cup can go into your blue box with your other containers. If you live in a multi-family home, you can recycle it with your other plastic packaging recyclables.

The foil lid: The foil lid is most likely garbage because it usually has a thin layer of plastic attached to it. Try tearing it slowly in good light and look for a thin stretch of clear plastic. If there is no plastic on the foil lid, you may put it in your blue box or with your other foil recycling. If there is a plastic layer, the foil lid is garbage.

Contact facilities directly regarding restrictions and charges.

Facilities

  • CRD Curbside Blue Box Recycling Program



    236.470.0186

  • Esquimalt Return-It

    935 Ellery
    Victoria
    250.381.1482

  • Hartland Depot

    1 Hartland Avenue
    Victoria
    250.360.3030

  • Pender Island Recycling Depot

    4400 Otter Bay Road
    Pender Island
    250.629.6962

  • Sidney Return-It

    5-10025 Galaran Road
    Sidney
    778.351.2828

  • The Environmental Story

    The CBC has been active in sharing news about the negative environmental impacts of disposable coffee pods: click here for the video.