For many people coffee is an important part of their daily routine and there are many different ways to make delicious coffee at home. No matter how you go about getting your daily fix here’s some tips to drive down your waste.
Coffee pod machines
Coffee pod machines get a pretty bad rap when it comes to waste and with good reason. Of the 3 million coffee capsules and pods we consume every day in Australia Planet Ark estimate that only 10 per cent are recycled which sends 8 500 tonnes of aluminium used coffee grounds and plastic to landfill each year.
If you have a guilty pod machine addiction you may want to consider buying reusable coffee pods. These are designed to work with a range of machines and as you fill the pods yourself they allow you to choose your own beans and compost them afterwards.
If your machine will only take disposable pods some brands do offer recycling programs in partnership with Terracycle. Planet Ark has also been working on a new product stewardship scheme called PODcycle that will collect and recycle all types and brands of coffee pods; however this scheme is not due to launch until 2023.
Beyond this the only option for your used coffee pods is to throw them in your kerbside waste bin.
Espresso machines and more
Regardless of whether you have a fancy espresso machine a dripolator or a coffee plunger these are all more waste-friendly options when compared to coffee pods.
The waste that is produced – in particular used coffee grounds and paper filters – are also very easy to manage as they can go directly into a home compost system. Alternatively consider mixing the coffee grounds with organic waste before sprinkling it on your garden but be aware that coffee grounds can be toxic to pets.
One area where waste can be a problem is the packaging that holds your coffee. The first and best option is to try and source a local supplier that allows you to BYO or reuse containers. Beyond that our handy table below explains the best action to take.
| Packaging type | What to do |
|---|---|
| Glass and uncoated paper packaging | Place in kerbside recycling bin |
| 100 per cent plastic and foil bags | Please place all soft plastics into your red landfill bin until further notice as the REDcycle scheme is currently on hold. Visit their website for more information. |
| Plastic-coated paper packaging | Participate in the free coffee bag recycling program supported by Seven Miles Coffee Roasters and Terracycle (takes all brands) |
| Plastic-coated paper packaging | Place in kerbside waste bin |
A final word on instant coffee
While instant coffee has fallen out of favour over recent years it is generally a more waste-friendly option. This is not only because it is often sold in readily recyclable packaging such as glass but also because it produces more cups per container.
While this is unlikely to impact the choices of even the most eco-aware espresso lover it is a handy fact to know next time someone looks down their nose at your cup of instant.