The quick answer
- Let the pod cool, then peel off the foil lid and throw the lid away.
- Empty out the used grounds into a compost bin, garden bed or the trash.
- Check your local recycling rules. Keurig K-Cup pods are made of #5 plastic, but many local programs still do not take them because they are too small to sort.
- No local option? Use a mail-back program, or put the pods in the trash.
- Other brands differ. Aluminum capsules such as Nespresso have their own return program, and compostable pods usually need a commercial compost site.
What a K-Cup is made of
A K-Cup pod has three parts: a small plastic cup, a paper filter inside it that holds the coffee, and a foil lid sealed on top. Keurig says all of its K-Cup pods have been made of polypropylene, the #5 plastic used for yogurt cups and butter tubs, since 2020. Older pods, and some pods made by other companies to fit Keurig machines, used mixed plastics that were not recyclable at all, so look for the #5 symbol and the word “recyclable” on the box or the cup.
Can you recycle K-Cups?
Sometimes. Keurig’s own packaging says to check locally because pods are not recycled in many communities, and that is the honest answer. A pod that is made of recyclable plastic still has to make it through a sorting facility, and many facilities cannot capture items that small; they drop through the sorting machines and end up as trash anyway. For that reason a number of cities and counties tell residents to leave pods out of the recycling cart altogether.
To find out what your program takes, look up your city or hauler’s recycling guide and search for “coffee pods” or “K-Cups.” If the guide does not mention them, call or email and ask. When in doubt, leave them out; putting things in the cart that the program cannot handle makes sorting harder for everything else.
How to prepare pods for recycling
- Let the pod cool so you do not burn your fingers on hot grounds.
- Peel the lid. Start at the puncture hole and pull the foil off. The lid goes in the trash; it is a mix of foil and plastic layers that recycling programs do not want.
- Empty the grounds. Tap or scoop them out. A small spoon or a butter knife helps.
- Check that the cup is empty and dry enough that it will not leave coffee sludge in the bin.
- Recycle it loose, not bagged, if your program accepts pods.
If you go through a lot of pods, set a small container next to the coffee maker and empty them in batches once they have cooled.
Mail-back programs
- Keurig K-Cycle. Keurig offers a mail-in program for people whose local recycling does not take pods. You prepare the pods the same way, collect them in the program’s box and mail it back. Check Keurig’s site for the current terms.
- TerraCycle. TerraCycle sells mail-back boxes that take coffee pods and capsules from many brands. These are mostly used by offices and households that go through a lot of pods.
- Brand programs. Some coffee and pod brands run their own take-back programs. Look on the box or the brand’s website.
When the trash is the right answer
Used coffee pods are not hazardous, so if your local program does not accept them and you do not want to use a mail-back option, the trash is a lawful and reasonable place for them. You can still keep some of the waste out of the landfill by emptying the grounds into compost first. If you are clearing out a large stash of unused, expired pods from an office or a pantry, check whether a food pantry or a coworker will take sealed boxes before you throw them out. Our guide to disposing of expired canned food covers the same choices for other pantry items.
Nespresso, compostable and other pods
- Nespresso and other aluminum capsules. Nespresso runs its own recycling program for its aluminum capsules, with mail-back bags and drop-off points. Many curbside programs do not take them loose because of their size, so use the brand program unless your local guide says otherwise.
- Compostable pods. Some brands sell pods labeled compostable. Most of these are certified for commercial composting, not a backyard pile, and many city compost programs do not accept them. Read the label and your compost program’s rules before you add them.
- Pods for other machines. Pods for other brewers are made of a range of plastics, aluminum and paper. Follow the maker’s instructions and your local rules for each one.
Cutting down on pod waste
- Use a refillable pod. Reusable filters that fit pod brewers let you use your own ground coffee and cut pod waste to almost nothing.
- Compost the grounds. Coffee grounds and paper filters break down in a compost pile, and many gardeners mix them into beds.
- Keep grounds out of the drain. Grounds can build up in pipes, so do not rinse them down the sink.
- Retiring the brewer? A coffee maker that no longer works is a small appliance. See our guide to disposing of small appliances.
K-Cup disposal FAQ
Are K-Cups recyclable?
Keurig says its K-Cup pods have been made of recyclable #5 polypropylene since 2020, but many local programs still do not accept them because they are too small to sort. Check your city or hauler's recycling guide.
Do I have to take the grounds out of a K-Cup before recycling it?
Yes. Let the pod cool, peel off the foil lid and empty the grounds. Recycling programs that accept pods want them empty.
Is the K-Cup lid recyclable?
No. The lid is a mix of foil and plastic that recycling programs do not take. Peel it off and put it in the trash.
Can I put K-Cups in the trash?
Yes. Used coffee pods are not hazardous, so the trash is fine if your local program does not accept them and you do not use a mail-back program. Composting the grounds first cuts the waste.
Can K-Cups be composted?
Standard plastic K-Cups cannot. The grounds can go in compost. Pods labeled compostable usually need a commercial compost facility, so check the label and your local compost rules.
How do I dispose of Nespresso pods?
Nespresso runs its own recycling program for its aluminum capsules, with mail-back bags and drop-off points. Many curbside programs do not take capsules loose, so use the brand program unless your local guide says otherwise.
The bottom line
Let the pod cool, peel off and trash the lid, and empty the grounds into compost or the trash. Then check your local recycling guide: if it accepts K-Cups, recycle the empty cups loose; if it does not, use a mail-back program such as Keurig’s or TerraCycle’s, or put them in the trash. A refillable pod is the simplest way to stop the waste in the first place.