26 November 2025
Coffee anyone? Do you start your day with a caffeine hit? We’ve recently made it easier for the residents of Bridgend to recycle used coffee pods by teaming up with Podbank, a not-for-profit, coffee pod recycling service. Locals can recycle their aluminium and plastic coffee pods at three community recycling centres, which we run on behalf of Bridgend County Council in Brynmenyn, Maesteg and Pyle.
The pods are then taken to Podback’s reprocessing partners: the recycled aluminium is used in the packaging and automotive industries, and the recycled plastic is supplied to the building and manufacturing industries.
Podbank, founded in 2021 by Nestlé Nespresso SA and Jacobs Douwe Egberts with a mission to ensure that every coffee pod enjoyed is recycled, now has 30 member brands including retailers such as Asda, Morrisons and Ocado, and coffee specialists illy Caffe and Whittard of Chelsea, plus independent roasters. Other founder brands include Starbucks at Home, Tassimo, and L’Or. This network means Podbank now has 1,100 drop-off points in supermarkets and at more than 260 Household Recycling Centres.
Plan B Management Solutions also recycle vapes in Bridgend: they can be handed in at the recycling centres along with coffee pods. As well as protecting the environment, recycling vapes keeps people safe as they pose a significant fire risk when disposed of incorrectly. From April to June this year, we have collected more than half a ton of vapes.
“We’re delighted to be working in the community of Bridgend to recycle coffee pods, with our partner Podbank, and vapes at our recycling centres. Providing this service ensures these everyday items are disposed of responsibly and materials are reused wherever possible,” says Gareth Barnes, Business Manager, Plan B Management Solutions.