Updated for 2025 | Australia & New Zealand
If you’re a daily coffee drinker, your cherished caffeine hit may be the number one thing that gets you up and going in the morning. And if it is… you’re not alone! Aussies consume around three million coffee pods daily, and while it helps us get up and going in the morning the majority of coffee pods can’t go in your kerbside recycling bin, and will end up in landfills (yes – even aluminium pods).
The good news? You’ve got options.
Australia:
- L’OR, Campos, Moccona & Jed’s Capsules Free Recycling Program
Recycle used L’OR, Campos, Moccona and Jed’s capsules for free. You can post them from home or drop them off at a participating public collection point (check the map on the program page). - NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto® Capsule Free Recycling Program
Send in NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto® capsules for free recycling via post, or use a public drop-off point near you. - Coffee Capsules Zero Waste Box™ (Paid option)
An option that accepts any type of coffee capsule, from any location.
New Zealand:
- L’OR & Jed’s Capsules Free Recycling Programme
Recycle L’OR and Jed’s coffee capsules for free. Choose to post them back or drop them off at a public collection point. - NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto® Capsule Free Recycling Programme
Recycle NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto® capsules via NZ Post or a nearby public drop-off location. - Robert Harris Coffee Capsules Free Recycling Programme
Currently transitioning to in-store collection only, available at select Robert Harris cafés. - Coffee Capsules Zero Waste Box™ (Paid option)
A flexible, all-brand option for homes, offices or shared spaces.
Why are coffee capsules so hard to recycle?
- They are made from multi-layer materials like plastic, foil and aluminum.
- Many still contain leftover organic waste (e.g. coffee grounds), which adds complexity.
- These components are hard to separate using standard kerbside recycling systems. As a result, they are often missed in processing or sent to landfill.
That’s where TerraCycle comes in, with specialised solutions that recover these materials properly.
Top tips to recycle your coffee capsules the right way
- Cool before handling.Let your capsules cool down after use to avoid burns or damage when storing.
- Drying the excess. Empty any leftover liquid before storing your capsules to keep things tidy and avoid odours.
- Store smart. Collect used pods in a tub, bag or cardboard box (whatever fits in your space!) until you’re ready to send them in.
- Choose your recycling solution.
- Check if your favourite brand has a free recycling program through TerraCycle in Australia or New Zealand.
- Or recycle any brand of coffee capsules with a Zero Waste Box available in Australia and New Zealand.
- Make it count. Most people fill a Zero Waste Box over time, which helps reduce costs and emissions per shipment.
Wondering why you need to ship rubbish from different capsule recycling programs separately? Find all the details here.
TerraCycle has been recycling coffee capsules for years. Here’s how it works
While other programs come and go, TerraCycle has been recycling coffee capsules for years, offering consistent, traceable solutions for offices, hotels and households.
Here’s what happens when you send your capsules to us:
- Capsules are opened and coffee grounds are separated
- Grounds are composted
- Remaining materials are cleaned and sorted
- Metals are smelted and reused in secondary manufacturing
- Plastics are blended with other materials to form recycled plastic blends
Every part is processed responsibly. Nothing ends up in landfills or incinerators.
Ready to get started?
Whether you’re brewing at home or in the office, there’s a TerraCycle solution to help you keep coffee capsules out of landfills or incinerators.
Explore your options:
Australia
New Zealand
Want to see more recycling options?
We’re proud to offer solutions. But there’s more to do. If you’d like to see more brands or retailers support coffee capsule recycling, your voice can make a difference. Use our changemaker guide to take action.
TerraCycle News 
I remove the used coffee & put it in my compost. Can I recycle the plastic tubs anywhere or just keep binning them? FYI, they are Kfee (Aldi) pods.
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Ask Aldi, if they provide a recycling service or know of anyone who does.
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