Key Points
- Leeds City Council has launched a trial for coffee pod recycling at local household waste recycling centres, enabling residents to recycle used pods more conveniently.
- The initiative aligns with Podback’s expanding national network, which now includes over 260 local authority recycling centres and more than 1,100 retail drop-off points across the UK.
- Participating residents fill Podback recycling bags with used plastic or aluminium coffee pods from over 30 member brands and deposit them at designated sites for processing.
- Coffee grounds from recycled pods are turned into renewable energy and soil improver, while aluminium and plastic are reused in products like drink cans and building materials.
- This trial supports broader efforts to divert coffee pods from general waste, following successful expansions like Co-op store partnerships in Leeds and other areas.
Leeds (The Leeds Times) January 12, 2026 – Leeds City Council has initiated a new trial allowing residents to recycle used coffee pods directly at household waste recycling centres across the city.
The scheme, operated in partnership with Podback, the UK’s nationwide coffee pod recycling service, introduces dedicated drop-off points at these facilities. Residents can now deposit filled Podback bags containing used pods, simplifying the recycling process for households. Podback collects the bags for specialised processing in the UK, addressing the challenges of mixed materials in pods that cannot enter standard kerbside systems.
What is the Podback recycling process?
According to reporting from LetsRecycle, Podback accepts both plastic and aluminium pods from more than 30 member coffee brands. Customers obtain free recycling bags from the Podback website or participating brands, fill them with used pods, and drop them at authorised locations. Pods undergo shredding to separate coffee grounds from casings, with grounds converted into renewable energy or soil improver.
The remaining aluminium and plastic materials enter dedicated streams for recovery into new products, including drink cans, industrial packaging, garden furniture, and building materials. Retail Rewired notes that all recycling occurs within the UK, ensuring environmental benefits stay local.
As reported by Rick Hindley of Podback, the service provides simple ways for coffee lovers to recycle by integrating drop-offs into daily routines. Hindley stated:
“Our mission is to give lovers of pod coffee simple and convenient ways to recycle, and Podback customers throughout the UK have responded positively to the introduction of drop-off points in retail locations.”
How does this trial fit into Podback’s national expansion?
Podback’s network has grown significantly, now encompassing over 1,100 retail locations and 260 local authority recycling centres. Green Retail World highlights recent partnerships, such as with Co-op, which introduced Podback-branded units in 30 stores across southwest England plus sustainability showcase stores in Leeds, Soham, and Northampton. This six-month Co-op trial marks the first for a UK convenience retailer.
Podback’s own announcement confirms the Co-op collaboration includes Leeds, making in-store recycling accessible alongside the new household waste centre trial. South Derbyshire District Council reporting indicates a shift from kerbside collections to drop-off points nationwide, with their service ending in February 2026 after diverting 53 tonnes of pods since 2021. More locations, including Morrisons, Asda, and Aldi stores, are joining the network.
Which locations in Leeds are participating?
Leeds residents can use the new household waste recycling centres as drop-off points, building on existing Podback sites like the Co-op sustainability showcase store. Podback’s online Recycle Checker tool lists all participating spots, with bags available for order directly from their site. Asda’s toYou parcel service and other retailers provide additional options in the area.
What are the expected benefits and reactions?
Scott McHarg, Head of Co-op & Property Sustainability, welcomed similar expansions, saying:
“Recycling is a topic that our member-owners are extremely passionate about and this new trial is another way we can make it easier for our customers to do the right thing for the planet when shopping in our stores.”
Podback’s Rick Hindley described retail and centre drop-offs as an “exciting step” toward a nationwide network.
The Leeds trial encourages greater participation by placing recycling near household waste routines, potentially increasing diversion rates from landfill. BusinessGreen reports Podback’s latest partnerships bring convenience to more users, while Packaging Europe emphasises the scheme’s role in handling aluminium and plastic pods via parcel returns where available.
Councils like Leeds are prioritising such initiatives amid Podback’s phase-out of some kerbside services, directing residents to reliable drop-offs. Enquiries should go to Podback’s website for updates and location finders. The trial’s success could lead to permanent integration at more centres, supporting UK recycling goals.
