Nespresso, The Valencian Community And The Recycling Of Coffee Pods

Coffee pods have become a regular in our purchase. Various studies indicate that 7 out of every ten households have a coffee pod machine. However, as the consumption of coffee pods has increased, the question has also arisen, where are coffee pods recycled? 

Nespresso chose aluminum for its pods as it is an infinitely recyclable material that can be reused in the manufacture of other products, from cars to computers, as its properties do not change during the recycling process. To promote the circularity of this material, Nespresso created its own collection and recycling system, unique and pioneering in the market, with nearly 1,900 collection points located in Nespresso Boutiques, large stores where you can buy Nespresso machines and municipal points of waste collection. 

In addition to this infrastructure, and in order to further facilitate the recycling of aluminum coffee pods to consumers, Nespresso, together with the Generalitat Valenciana and the Valencia City Council, has launched a pioneering pilot project for the collection, classification and recycling of aluminum and light steel products in the city of Valencia. Thus, since last July, coffee pods can be deposited in the 2,500 yellow containers in the city. And not only the coffee pods, but also other items such as aluminum foil, aluminum sealing foils, small candles, toothpaste tubes, aluminum jars, opening tin lids, coffee bags, aluminum trays, wires and aluminum cava lids.

To make this project possible, Nespresso has designed and installed a technological solution at the Picassent container sorting plant . At a technical level, it is an existing eddy current technology present in packaging waste management plants. As it is usually configured, it does not capture small volume products. The innovation in the process developed by Nespresso, with the technical advice of REGULATOR-CETRISA, makes up for this. Thus, a new REGULATOR-CETRISA Foucault machine has been incorporated, adapted to increase the uptake of small-sized aluminum and steel waste.