Participation in the Dunkin’ Coffee Bag Recycling Program is completely free

Dunkin’ Donuts has launched a new recycling program that helps reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills.

Dunkin’ Coffee Bag Recycling Program

A partnership between Dunkin’, Dunkin’ coffee distributor The J.M. Smucker Company, and international recycling leader TerraCycle, the Dunkin’ Coffee Bag Recycling Program is a national program that aims to recycle all Dunkin’ brand flexible ground and whole bean coffee bags. Collected coffee bags are cleaned and melted into hard plastic that can be remolded to make new recycled products like park benches and picnic tables.

How to join the Dunkin’ Coffee Bag Recycling Program

Create a TerraCycle account to join the program. Signing up is free, but if the program is full, you will be added to a waitlist.

Once you are accepted to the program, you can start collecting Dunkin’ brand flexible ground and whole bean coffee bags, and put them in a box. When your box is full, log in to your TerraCycle account to download and print a prepaid shipping label. After sealing your box, affix the prepaid shipping label and then send the package to TerraCycle via UPS.

To minimize the transportation carbon footprint for this program, only ship the package when your box is full. And while there’s no need to clean each coffee bag collected, it is recommended to remove as much of the remaining product as possible before shipping. Also make sure that the coffee bags are dry, as UPS will not accept dripping packages.

Dunkin’ has sponsored the entire program, so there is no direct cost to you.

Benefits of joining the Dunkin’ Coffee Bag Recycling Program

Beyond keeping plastic waste out of landfills, participating in the program also earns you TerraCycle points. Participants get 100 points per pound of shipment, which can be redeemed for a donation of $0.01 per point to the charitable organization or school of your choice.

TerraCycle has already raised over $45 million dollars globally for schools and charities through its different recycling programs.