HOW TO PROPERLY RECYCLE USED COFFEE CAPSULES

WITH LOÏC RÉTHORÉ, NESPRESSO MARKET DIRECTOR FOR AUSTRALIA AND OCEANIA

Recently, there’s been a lot of talk about the impact coffee capsules, or “pods”, are having on our environment, seeing as most become unnecessary waste in landfill. Considering that Australians consume up to three million coffee pods each day, there’s cause for concern. We asked the experts at Nespresso to explain how we can recycle properly (and best alleviate our caffeine-exacerbated guilt).

“Nespresso capsules are made of aluminium, which is an infinitely recyclable material,” says Réthoré. “At our recycling plant, the capsules are recycled into two streams. The residual coffee is separated and sent to an industrial composting facility and the capsules are smelted down and made into new aluminium products.”

The brand has collection points for its capsules in all of its Australian stores as well as in more than 200 florists and garden centres around the country. “The recycling process is simple,” says Réthoré. “Once used, place your capsules in a Nespresso resealable recycling bag or canister. Then visit nespresso.com to find your nearest used-capsule collection point. Drop off the used capsules at the collection point once the bag or canister is full.”

With that out of the way, there are two common strategies for managing your money together: ■ A joint bank account with both partners directing all their income into it, and all bills being paid out of it, with each person being allocated an amount to spend that is theirs. This is a good idea for couples who decide to have a family and one partner doesn’t work or reduces their hours. It can be difficult for both partners to contribute the same amount to a joint account, so this method helps maintain the family’s financial goals and commitments. ■ A joint bank account that each person transfers a weekly amount into and the remaining sum is theirs to do as they please. This option works best for a couple without a family. They may have a joint savings account they contribute to if they have a goal, and the amount contributed might be of equal value or a percentage of their salary. Early on in a relationship it can be a great way for each person to maintain financial independence.