<p>Keurig have publicly stated they are switching to using fully recyclable materials by 2020 (I have no idea why it will take them five years to implement something most companies have been doing for decades, but that's beside the point).  You can see more at <a href="http://www.keuriggreenmountain.com/en/Sustainability/SustainableProducts/OurProducts/ReducingProductWaste.aspx" rel="nofollow">their Web site</a>.  You can also get Keurig-compatible (although not "approved") pods that do not have the outer plastic.  They are just an upper ring, a foil cover and a filter with grounds dangling loose.  While some of these make great coffee, I am told they go stle rather quickly if you don't have a tightly sealed container in which to store them.</p>

<p>Flavia/Alterra have their own recycling program.  I don't know about home-use situations, but at least for managed, corporate-use programs, their single-serve packets can be recycled using the packet-disposal boxes they provide.</p>

<p>I can't speak to other single-serve manufacturers.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-30T14:49:01.817Z
2015-04-30T14:49:01.817Z
Mike Frazer
<p>coffee pods can be recycled or even refilled
take a peak of the following link
<a href="http://www.instructables.com/howto/capsules/" rel="nofollow">http://www.instructables.com/howto/capsules/</a></p>

<p>you can even search for other words such as coffe pods</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-06T14:18:23.483Z
Links can rot or change, please edit your answer to include information from the link.
Nick Udell
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-07T14:15:55.203Z
That link now points to a lot of articles about a lot of capsules, none of them obviously to do with coffee.
Chris H
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-04T22:23:43.897Z
2015-05-04T22:23:43.897Z
aLcOmAnDa
<p>There are now a variety of systems using single-serving coffee pods or capsules. But what happens to the capsules after they are used?</p>

<p>What are these capsules actually made of? How much of the materials can be usefully recovered for recycling?</p>

<p>How widespread are recycling facilities? Presumably it will vary depending on the system and country etc.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-03T20:52:10.377Z
This question from another site inside StackExchange deals with this issue: http://sustainability.stackexchange.com/questions/2501/can-you-recycle-single-serve-coffee-pods-like-k-cups
Nicolás
<capsule><recycling><pods>
Can coffee pods be recycled?
vclaw
# Can coffee pods be recycled?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-04-30)

There are now a variety of systems using single-serving coffee pods or capsules. But what happens to the capsules after they are used?

What are these capsules actually made of? How much of the materials can be usefully recovered for recycling?

How widespread are recycling facilities? Presumably it will vary depending on the system and country etc.

**Tags:** capsule, recycling, pods

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: This question from another site inside StackExchange deals with this issue: http://sustainability.stackexchange.com/questions/2501/can-you-recycle-single-serve-coffee-pods-like-k-cups  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-04-30. Score: 4

Keurig have publicly stated they are switching to using fully recyclable materials by 2020 (I have no idea why it will take them five years to implement something most companies have been doing for decades, but that's beside the point). You can see more at [their Web site](http://www.keuriggreenmountain.com/en/Sustainability/SustainableProducts/OurProducts/ReducingProductWaste.aspx). You can also get Keurig-compatible (although not "approved") pods that do not have the outer plastic. They are just an upper ring, a foil cover and a filter with grounds dangling loose. While some of these make great coffee, I am told they go stle rather quickly if you don't have a tightly sealed container in which to store them.

Flavia/Alterra have their own recycling program. I don't know about home-use situations, but at least for managed, corporate-use programs, their single-serve packets can be recycled using the packet-disposal boxes they provide.

I can't speak to other single-serve manufacturers.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2015-05-04. Score: 0

coffee pods can be recycled or even refilled
take a peak of the following link
<http://www.instructables.com/howto/capsules/>

you can even search for other words such as coffe pods

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Links can rot or change, please edit your answer to include information from the link.  
> **username_5**: That link now points to a lot of articles about a lot of capsules, none of them obviously to do with coffee.  

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