Federal government funding for industry initiative.

 

The federal government has awarded funding for a new national recycling scheme for coffee capsules to a consortium led by Planet Ark Environmental Foundation.

 

The funding will go towards the development of an industry-wide national product stewardship scheme for all coffee capsules available on the domestic market.  

 

The project is critical to raising recycling rates, reducing organic material in landfill and increasing access to collection points for a rapidly growing waste stream and already has the support of   Vittoria, Kruger ANZ and Grinders Coffee.

 

To execute the program, Planet Ark will lead a consortium including Nespresso and Woolworths. Nespresso brings the invaluable experience of running their own coffee capsule recycling program in Australia for many years. Woolworths will work with the project partners to evaluate the feasibility of in-store capsule collection and subsequent transport to recycling facilities.

 

The funding is being provided through the National Product Stewardship Investment Fund, a $20 million fund to improve existing and kickstart new schemes. The Fund forms part of the Australian Government’s $167 million Australian Recycling Investment Plan and National Waste Policy Action Plan to increase Australia’s recycling rates, tackle plastic waste and litter and halve food waste by 2030.

 

Jean-Marc Dragoli, general manager of  Nespresso, said the company was keen to see coffee capsule recycling offered industry-wide.

 

“We have developed a robust program which has been collecting and recycling them in Australia for 10 years. We are keen to work with other manufacturers so that all consumers buying capsules will have access to recycling. This is why we partnered with Planet Ark’s consortium, to make this a reality,” he said.