Can you recycle k-cups if you disassemble them?


QUESTION:

Hello,

I searched the questions and answers here, but didn't find this exact question addressed.

Assuming that one does not mind the time it takes to disassemble used k-cups (removing the foil, emptying the coffee grounds, pulling out the filter), is the plastic container by itself recyclable?

Thanks for your help!

ANSWER:

I asked the manufacturers this question.

Unfortunately, the plastic cup itself is not recyclable.

But you can certainly take the foil lid off and then save the coffee grinds for your compost.

And now for the better news...

While you can’t recycle your K-Cups, you CAN reuse them.

Someone has come up with a reusable lid that you can use on your K-Cups.

So...once you have used the K-Cup for the first time, you take off the foil lid, remove the used coffee and rinse the filter.

Then you add fresh coffee to the empty K-Cup and replace the old foil lid with something called a My-Kap. Then you put the K-Cup in your brewer in the same way as usual.

Using the My-Kap means you can use the same K-Cup ten or more times.

This not only means you’ll save money on every cup of coffee you make, but it will also hugely reduce the K-Cup waste that ends up in your local landfill.

You can buy My-Kaps here...

Comments for Can you recycle k-cups if you disassemble them?

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Sep 28, 2010
K -cup metal foil basket
by: KPP

Another solution to the non-recyclable k-cups is a metal foil basket especially designed for the k cup coffee maker and there is no worry about throwing plastics away everytime one makes a cup of coffee. This small shot glass sized basket is similar to one you would put into a regular drip coffee maker and any type of ground coffee can be added to it and is about $15.

Mar 25, 2010
For what I'm told
by: Anonymous

I'm told the reason you can not recycle them is because the type of plastic they are made out of is designed to withstand the temperatures the water gets to.

Dec 09, 2009
but why??
by: captain recycler

can someone address why we cannot recycle the plastic cup? what are manufacturers doing about making a cup that can be recycled?? Millions of single cup coffee makers are being sold and it is such a shame that it isn't a bigger issue

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