How Long Does It Take For A Coffee Pod To Decompose?

Pods used in coffee machines are among the worst forms of human waste for the environment when it comes to long-term damage, according to new research which suggests they will take 500 years to decompose.

Pods made from aluminum can easily be recycled. However, if they are not, and they are left to degrade, they take up to 500 years to break down. Nespresso is one of the few companies that make their coffee pods from aluminum.

Our landfills are choking with the daily arrival of 2 million used coffee cups. Worse still is the fact that it will take 30 years for most of those cups to decompose. The reason being is that most takeaway cups contain a plastic lining meaning that it can’t be separated easily during the recycling process.

Here’s how long some common items take to decompose in the environment: Organic waxes, such as soybean wax, take about two weeks or a month to start breaking down in the environment. Paraffin usually takes longer. Based on volume, paper is one of the largest items in American landfills.

Meet the 100% compostable answer to your caffeine fix. Most single-serving coffee pods are not completely recyclable, but a growing number of coffee sellers are rolling out pods that can be tossed into the compost.

“But most people feel guilty about it.” Some coffee purveyors see that guilt as a business opportunity. Several big brands, such as Keurig, have introduced pods that are partly made with recyclable or biodegradable materials. But these options are still far from ideal.

How long does it take for coffee cups to decompose?

Worse still is the fact that it will take 30 years for most of those cups to decompose. The reason being is that most takeaway cups contain a plastic lining meaning that it can’t be separated easily during the recycling process. It’s become such an issue that the EU will ban single use coffee cups by 2030.

The reason being is that most takeaway cups contain a plastic lining meaning that it can’t be separated easily during the recycling process. It’s become such an issue that the EU will ban single use coffee cups by 2030. Dublin City Council meanwhile are looking at banning takeaway cups in its parks and offices.

The Bewley’s recyclable cup has a specially designed liner allowing for 100% of the paper, and also the lid, from the cup to be recycled. Bewley’s is also producing a compostable cup that is made from sustainable paper, which can be disposed of in your brown bin (including the lid).

Most coffee cups are not recyclable so, even though people put them in the recycling bins, they can’t actually be recycled and just get thrown away. Our landfills are choking with the daily arrival of 2 million used coffee cups. Worse still is the fact that it will take 30 years for most of those cups to decompose. Advertisement.

How long does it take for coffee pods to break down?

There are companies that make their coffee pods from oxo-biodegradable plastic, like Urban Brew. According to their website, these pods take around 2 years to break down in landfills, excluding the foil lid.

Most pods are made from aluminum, silicone, lacquer and mixed plastics which contain a single portion of coffee. These materials, are technically recyclable but will be harmful to the environment if not disposed of properly because of their non-biodegradable elements.

Throwing them in the green waste bin. This only applies to compostable coffee pods. They are compostable in nature and thus, can be thrown into one’s home compost. They can also be thrown into the green waste bin if the local council uses industrial composting facilities.

Disposing of them in landfills. It is not the safest and environmentally-conscious decision, but it makes the cut for safe ways of disposing of coffee pods. Some manufacturers, like Urban Brew, use oxo-biodegradable plastics, designed to break down in landfills at an accelerated rate.

Even if recycling is probably the best way to handle plastic coffee pods, it requires a lot of energy, which inevitably, is not good for the environment. The process also uses up a lot in terms of money and might not be worth it in the end.

Plastic coffee pods will definitely release methane and carbon dioxide gases, which are both greenhouse gases. Even if they are incinerated, they will produce these same gases and many more toxins into the atmosphere.

Of course, coffee pods can be recycled. The challenge with recycling coffee pods is that they are designed in a manner that does not, in itself, promote the idea of reusing, recycling or composting. They are designed to be used once and most people tend to throw them away right after that.