Coffee capsules just the start
Whangarei firm Alter-Natives Nursery & Landscaping has recycled tens of thousands of coffee capsules on behalf of its Whangarei community, via a national recycling programme operated by Nespresso and recycling pioneers TerraCycle.
The team at Alter-Natives ships the Nespresso capsules to Auckland, where they are shredded, cleaned, coffee grounds composted and the aluminium melted down to be reused.
“The Nespresso Coffee Capsule Recycling Programme is just one more way we can help minimise the amount of waste going to landfill,” Debbie Oldfield said.
“It’s great to see how Whangarei locals will travel out of their way to recycle their capsules.”
Now she’s encouraging people to think about what they do with other waste.
“When you put your mind to it, just about anything can be recycled. Not everything has to be put in the too-hard basket. With a little effort, a lot of waste can be kept out of the rubbish system,” she said.
Jean Bailliard, general manager of TerraCycle Australia & New Zealand, said she was impressed.
“We’re really inspired by the commitment of New Zealand businesses to recycling, and by their hard work in raising awareness about waste and sustainability,” she said.
TerraCycle operated several free programmes that were designed to keep hard-torecycle waste, such as coffee capsules, toothbrushes and yoghurt pouches, out of the local landfill.
All collectors had to do was go to www.terracycle.co.nz, create an account, and join any of the free recycling programmes that suited them, then collect the waste.
Once the container was full they logged into their TerraCycle account, downloaded a free New Zealand Post shipping label, stuck it on the box and dropped it off at their nearest Post Shop.
TerraCycle has diverted four billion pieces of waste from landfill and incineration in 21 countries, and had raised US$21 million for non-profit organisations and charities worldwide. ■ For more go to www.terracycle.co.nz/en-nz/ brigades/