Coffee Pods: How to Dispose of Them Correctly?

Today, you don't need to go to a cafe to enjoy an espresso as good as one made by your trusted barista. Thanks to single-dose coffee and modern machines like those from the Ariete range, we can enjoy a cup of hot "black gold" in the comfort of our home or office, whenever we wish.
With convenient capsules and pods, coffee retains all its aroma and intense flavour, but once used, where should coffee pods be thrown away? What are the correct ways to dispose of capsules in recycling to respect the environment? In this guide, we will look at how to manage this type of waste, which has become a part of our daily lives.

Disposing of Coffee Capsules and Pods: A Green Choice

General waste, aluminium, plastic, or organic: where do coffee pods go? And how should you dispose of capsules? While Ariete coffee machines are convenient for easily preparing one of the world's favourite drinks at any time, they have inevitably created a new type of waste; waste that, specifically, is quite difficult to recycle.

While it is true that coffee pods are completely compostable, as they are made of biodegradable materials easily disposed of with organic waste, the same cannot be said for capsules. Coffee capsules are often multi-component products, meaning they are made of different materials that are difficult to separate. Once exhausted, they are often destined for the general waste bin, having a significant harmful impact on the environment.

This is why it is important to know exactly where to dispose of coffee pods and especially capsules, which could otherwise take up to 500 years to decompose fully. Correct disposal of this waste every day is a small but precious gesture for safeguarding our planet and reducing the volume of waste accumulated in landfills.

Where to Throw Away Coffee Pods and Capsules

Now that we have highlighted the importance of correct disposal, we just need to discover where to throw away coffee pods and capsules based on the materials they are made of. Despite initial difficulties, you simply need to manually separate all components and place them in the appropriate recycling bins.
These steps allow us to respect the environment every time we use an Ariete coffee machine, available in many types to satisfy every palate. Among these, consider the model 1312, compatible with both ground coffee and ESE pods, equipped with five coffee filters; or the 1313 coffee machine, also pod-compatible and designed for those seeking the perfect Italian espresso.
By encouraging coffee pod recycling, you support Ariete's green cause. The brand recently launched its Cafeteria, a virtual space dedicated to the pleasure of Italian coffee.

Plastic Capsules

Plastic capsules, unless otherwise indicated by the manufacturer, are usually thrown in the general waste bin because the material composition often prevents recovery processing. For a greener approach, you can remove the aluminium lid and put it in the dedicated metal bin, throw the coffee grounds into the organic waste, and rinse the plastic container to place it in the plastic recycling bin.

Aluminium Capsules

If your coffee machine uses aluminium capsules, direct recycling is possible. However, be careful, as some products are made with a mix of materials, usually aluminium and plastic, making recovery impossible. Recycling coffee capsules is only possible if they are 100% aluminium, allowing them to be taken to dedicated collection points or recycling centres in your city.

Compostable Capsules

Eco-friendly or compostable coffee capsules and pods can be disposed of through organic waste collection. This means you don't even have to separate the organic residue; you can throw the entire casing - including the leftover coffee - into the biodegradable waste bin.