Fortunately, there are solutions. Recycling company TerraCycle has drop-off points at florists and garden centres around Australia and New Zealand for used pods. Nespresso has also just started selling pre-paid Australia Post satchels so consumers can send up to 130 capsules at a time back for recycling. Refillable and biodegradable pods are being developed to tackle growing environmental concerns too.

Who knew bringing your old toothbrush, floss or toothpaste tubes into school could help to save the planet? That’s the lesson being learnt at Garran Primary School since the school has partnered with upcycling pioneers TerraCycle to recycle the traditionally un-recyclable products. TerraCycle, headquartered in the USA, works with corporations to fund recycling solutions that would be considered cost prohibitive by council and municipal programs. By collecting used oral care items and sending them to TerraCycle, collectors can also raise $0.02 per unit received over 1kg which can then be donated to their chosen school, charity or not-for-profit. Since its launch in Australia the oral care recycling program has kept 112,549 items from going to landfill and raised $1993.