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Espresso Coffee Capsules
Made for use in Nespresso®* Original Coffee Machines
FAQ
1. Who is TerraCycle®?
TerraCycle® is an international leader in innovative sustainability solutions, creating and operating first-of-their-kind platforms in recycling, recycled content, and reuse. Across 21 countries, TerraCycle® is on a mission to eliminate the idea of waste and develop practical solutions for today’s complex waste challenges. TerraCycle® is very well established in Canada and works with a variety of consumer product companies, retailers, and other stakeholders to ensure packaging is properly recycled. This is the first Canadian mail-back program they have launched for a product that can be commercially composted. Through this partnership with Keurig Canada, McCafé® Espresso Coffee Capsules—for use in Nespresso®* Original Coffee Machines will be commercially composted. The flexible bags they are packaged in will be recycled
2. How does the take-back program work?
To ensure the capsules are properly composted, we have partnered with TerraCycle® for a commercial composting mail-back program that is free and easy to use for consumers in Canada with the exception of Yukon, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.
To send your used pods back, all you have to do is:
- Create an account at terracycle.com. The program is available across Canada with the exception of Yukon, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.
- Join the McCafé® Free Composting & Recycling Program.
- Start collecting your McCafé® Espresso Coffee Capsules—for use in Nespresso®* Original Coffee Machines and flexible bags.
- Print a free shipping label, package up your items in any box you have around, and send them to TerraCycle® for commercial composting and recycling. The instructions are also on the packaging.
3. What do I do with the flexible plastic bag the capsules are sold in?
You can use the same process and send back the bags in the same box as the capsules. TerraCycle® will recycle them properly for consumers across Canada with the exception of Yukon, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.
4. Will it cost me anything?
No, the take-back program is free for consumers and is fully funded by McCafé®.
5. Do I need to clean the packaging before I send it in?
No, you do not need to clean the McCafé® Espresso Coffee Capsules—for use in Nespresso®* Original Coffee Machines or the flexible bags before sending them to TerraCycle®. UPS will not accept dripping packages, so make sure your items are dry.
6. What are the best practices for shipping my commercial composting and recycling to TerraCycle®?
With the exception of Yukon, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories we encourage you to ship when your box is full of McCafé® Espresso Coffee Capsules—for use in Nespresso®* Original Coffee Machines and flexible bags to optimize transportation for this program. UPS will not accept dripping packages, so make sure your items are dry.
7. What happens once TerraCycle® receives my capsules?
TerraCycle® has a robust process in place:
- Receipt and check-in: your shipment is received at a Material Recovery Facility.
- Sortation and aggregation: when a shipment is opened, there is a visual inspection to sort the McCafé® Espresso Coffee Capsules—for use in Nespresso®* Original Coffee Machines and coffee bags and remove any noncompliant waste. Compliant waste is aggregated accordingly so it can be efficiently sent for proper processing and handling.
- Commercial composting: the capsules are transferred to a facility where they are commercially composted.
- Recycling: the flexible plastic bags are densified and used for the manufacturing of raw material feedstock. The clean plastics are sorted by material and mixed with other plastics to make recycled plastic blends.
- Completing the journey: the capsules are commercially composted into high-quality soil. Recycled plastics are sold to third-party manufacturers to create new products.
8. Is the take-back program available everywhere?
The program is available across Canada with the exception of Yukon, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.
9. Can I return my McCafé® Espresso Coffee Capsules—for use in Nespresso®* Original Coffee Machines with the Nespresso recycling program?
No, the Nespresso program is designed to process and recycle original Nespresso aluminum pods. To ensure the McCafé® Espresso Coffee Capsules—for use in Nespresso®* Original Coffee Machines are properly composted, the TerraCycle® commercial composting mail-back program should be used. It is free and easy to use across Canada, with the exception of Yukon, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.
10. Can the capsules be composted at home – in my garden or in my backyard composter?
For the time being, the McCafé® Espresso Coffee Capsules—for use in Nespresso®* Original Coffee Machines– can only be commercially composted with TerraCycle®. In order to make sure that the majority of Canadians have the ability to effectively compost the new McCafé® Espresso Coffee Capsules—for use in Nespresso®* Original Coffee Machines, we decided to partner with TerraCycle® to provide consumers with a turnkey solution in the form of a mail-back commercial composting program.
11. Why are the McCafé® Espresso Coffee Capsules—for use in Nespresso®* Original Coffee Machines commercially composted instead of recycled?
The McCafé® Espresso Coffee Capsules—for use in Nespresso®* Original Coffee Machines are designed to be composted in industrial composting sites and converted. Please do not recycle McCafé® Espresso Coffee Capsules via your curbside program.