Reusable, recyclable and compostable coffee pods

If you're looking for a way to reduce the waste from your daily coffee routine, it could be worth swapping over to reusable or compostable pods – or simply recycling your used aluminium pods.

Here we highlight what you need to know about each of the options, so you can decide which suits your budget, circumstances and level of commitment.

Best pod coffee machines – explore our Best Buy recommendations.

Reusable (refillable) coffee pods

At a glance These reduce the number of pods you power through per week, plus you'll be able to use any ground coffee you like.

• Pros Reduces single-use plastic and aluminium waste, potentially cheaper over time (especially with daily use)
• Cons Ground coffee packaging can be difficult to recycle (and in some cases, it's not recyclable at all), filling and cleaning pods takes time

Individually packed, prefilled coffee pods used in capsule machines are convenient – they can be filled with ground coffee, used with your capsule machine, then cleaned out for reuse.

Reusable coffee capsules are usually made of plastic, stainless steel, or sometimes silicone. They're designed to work with popular coffee pod systems, and will only work with that specific brand of pod machine.

You can buy refillable pods for Nespresso and Dolce Gusto machines. Prices range from around £3 all the way up to £30 per reusable capsule. Plastic capsules tend to be cheaper than metal ones.

Where to buy refillable coffee pods

• Amazon Sells a wide range of refillable pod multipacks for Nespresso and Dolce Gusto machines, many of which cost less than £15.
• My Reusable The brand stocks refillable pods for Nespresso machines, plus Vertuo models and Dolce Gusto machines. The website claims that one of its bestselling packs is the Tassimo bundle, which costs around £14.
• Evergreen Capsules Offers capsules for Nespresso, Dolce Gusto and Vertuo machines. Reusable capsule for Nespresso (with single-use lids) cost around £40 for a pack of three capsules and 100 lids.
• B&Q While the retailer is best known for its DIY products, it also stocks reusable Nespresso pods online from around £9.

Recyclable coffee pods

At a glance Single-serve capsules that aim to offer convenience while reducing environmental impact.

• Pros Better for the environment than regular pods, various recycling schemes, supported by major brands
• Cons Recycling can still be fiddly, often more expensive compared to standard pods

Regular single-serve coffee pods are made from plastic or aluminium. Unfortunately, these materials can take up to 500 years to decompose in a landfill.

As a result, the coffee industry has evolved in an effort to make it easier for consumers to recycle them.

Big-name brands including Nespresso, Dolce Gusto and Illy offer pods made of materials they claim are recyclable or biodegradable, though we've not tested the viability of these in practice. They have also backed various schemes aimed at making recycling less fiddly.

Recycling Nespresso, Dolce Gusto and Tassimo pods: Podback

At a glance The owners of the UK’s three biggest coffee pod brands have joined forces to establish a nationwide recycling scheme for single-serve pods.

Launched in 2021, Podback is a coffee pod recycling scheme that aims to provide customers with simple and easy ways to recycle their pods.

The not-for-profit organisation was created by Nestlé and Jacobs Douwe Egberts (JDE). As a team, these big-name brands also own Nespresso, Nescafé Dolce Gusto, Tassimo, L'OR and Starbucks at Home.

You can recycle used coffee pods through Podback in a few different ways, including:

• At a recycling centre No bag is needed and you can simply tip your pods loose into the containers.
• Using in-store drop off Podback bags are accepted at supermarkets and coffee shops around the UK. Aldi customers, for example, can scan a QR code in-store in the coffee pod aisle to request a free Podback recycling bag. Asda joined the scheme in 2025, which means customers can drop Podback bags at a toYou parcel returns service in-store.
• Using the local council's Podback service The Podback website says you'll receive a bag by post. Once you have filled your bag, tie the handles and put it out for collection.

We recommend using the Podback Recycle Checker to find nearby locations where you can recycle your pods. The tool also lets you check whether a Podback household collection service is available in your local authority area and provides information on how to get your free recycling bags.

To see which coffee machines our experts recommend, browse our Dolce Gusto coffee machine reviews and Tassimo coffee machine reviews.

Recycling Nespresso pods: more options

If you're a Nespresso customer, you can request a free pod recycling bag from the Nespresso website. The brand's capsules are made from aluminium.

Fill your bag with used capsules and then return them using one of the following methods:

• Doorstep collection A partnership with Royal Mail means you can have your used pods collected at home. You can have up to three bags per booking. Visit the brand's Recycle with Nespresso page and enter your details to get started.
• In-store drop-off Used capsules can be dropped off at Nespresso Boutiques and Royal Mail collection points nationwide. Note that you can also get a recycling bag from any Nespresso Boutique.

Consult our Nespresso coffee machine reviews to see which models are Which? Best Buys.

Recycling Lavazza Eco Caps

Lavazza offers a range of compostable coffee pods known as Eco Caps. Once you're done enjoying your espresso, you can dispose of these pods in your food waste bin – provided your local council accepts compostable packaging. These pods are then sent to an industrial composting facility, where they break down and are turned into nutrient-rich compost.

If you don't have access to food waste bins, you can use the Lavazza Eco Caps Free Composting Programme, which is managed through Terracycle.

Lavazza Eco Caps can be disposed of by leaving them at a public drop-off location during designated hours (there's an interactive map on the website) or by setting up your own public drop-off location. All Lavazza Eco Caps compatible with Lavazza A Modo Mio coffee machines are accepted.

However, the following waste is not accepted:

• All Lavazza capsules compatible with A Modo Mio machines that are not Eco Caps
• Cardboard boxes or plastic packaging containing coffee capsules
• Any other brand of beverage capsules
• Coffee bags

Browse all of our Lavazza coffee machine reviews.

Recycling Dualit pods

Technically, you can recycle Dualit’s plastic NX pods in your usual collection if you dismantle, empty and clean them out. However, not all local authorities are equipped to process small, mixed-material items, so it’s best to check with your council.

Dualit also sells a range of compostable pods, and a pack of 50 typically costs around £17. These need to be composted industrially using your local council’s food waste collection scheme (if available in your area).

Read our Dualit coffee machine reviews.

Best travel mugs and reusable coffee cups – our tests reveal the best travel mugs and reusable coffee cups from Bodum, Thermos, Stanley and more. 

Compostable coffee pods

At a glance The materials used to make compostable pods are permeable, so keep your collection in an airtight container that's in a cool, dry place.

• Pros Cuts down on landfill waste, can be processed at home or locally
• Cons Not all councils accept them, might require extra effort to store and dispose of properly

If several people in your household enjoy coffee, it’s easy to go through four or more pods a day. Switching to compostable pods could significantly reduce your household waste, especially over time.

There are two main ways to compost these pods, depending on the type. Some are designed for industrial composting, which means they require additional heat, air or moisture to break down properly. These should be placed in your kerbside food waste collection bin, provided your local authority accepts them.

Others are suitable for a home compost heap, where they will decompose at a similar rate to other organic materials like vegetable peelings or garden waste.

Compostable vs biodegradable: what’s the difference?

In order for a product to be compostable, it has to meet a specific EU standard (EN 13432). This includes various requirements; one is that after 12 weeks at least 90% of the product should have disintegrated enough to fit through a 2mm sieve.

Biodegradable materials disintegrate in soil, air and water over time. But there's no set timeline for this term, so a biodegradable material could take many years to break down.

How to store compostable pods

Check the manufacturer's instructions for details on where to store your pods, as this differs by brand.

Lavazza told us to keep them safe in a 'cool, dry place'. Blue Goose also suggested somewhere dry, adding that 'a tin or jar is perfect, or a bowl next to your coffee machine'. Dualit told us not to remove its compostable pods from its white bags until it's time to use them – this will help to maintain optimum freshness.

Read more about recycling plastics.

Where to buy compostable pods

• Amazon A broad selection compatible with Nespresso and Lavazza machines. Options include a variety of roasts and flavours.
• Dualit It stocks compostable pods in five blends, and the capsules are compatible with Nespresso. One of the bestselling bundles is the Indian Monsoon pack, which includes 50 pods and costs around £17.
• Sainsbury’s The supermarket stocks compostable pods from various brands, including Grind, which offers House Blend and Dark Roast pods at around £5 per pack of 10.
• Rave Coffee Its signature-blend coffee pods are home compostable. Expect to spend around £4.20 for a pack of 10.
• Halo Coffee Home to various blends that the brand promises are '100% home compostable'.

Are there any eco-friendly alternatives to capsule machines?

Pod machines are undeniably tempting. They make it quick and easy to make a consistently good drink, without worrying about measuring and preparing your coffee correctly.

But it's worth considering the alternatives, as with a little bit of practice, they can quickly make tasty coffee and you can sidestep the accompanying eco guilt. Take a closer look at:

• Bean-to-cup coffee machines These can be pricey, but they grind coffee on demand and make your drink for you.
• Ground coffee or pump espresso machines These use ground coffee you measure out and pat down, ready for extraction.

See our guide to the best bean-to-cup coffee machines and the best espresso machines for our Best Buy picks.