TerraCycle, Keurig team up for coffee pod recycling pilot

*Editor’s Note: TerraCycle is profiled in the cover story of the August/ September 2014 edition of Solid Waste and Recycling magazine. OfficeMax Grand & Toy has teamed with TerraCycle for a coffee pod recycling pilot project in southern Ontario. The pilot project focuses on Keurig’s K-Cup Packs, small plastic pods filled with ground coffee that enable the convenience of making one quick cup of coffee. Until now, the coffee pods have not been recyclable through retailers in Canada, but if the pilot program is successful it is expected to roll out nationally. “We launched this program based on the stakeholder feedback that we received from our associates, suppliers and customers who have identified waste and recycling as our most important sustainability issue,” said Serguei Tchertok, sustainability manager for OfficeMax Grand & Toy. The coffee pod recycling system will come in three different sizes: small, medium and large. The cost of the boxes will be $52.99, $96.99, and $136.99, respectively. The price of the box includes the cost of recycling via TerraCycle and the prepaid shipping label. When the box is full, customers can ship the box directly to TerraCycle for processing. “TerraCycle is thrilled that OfficeMax Grand & Toy has partnered to launch Canada’s first K-Cup Packs retailer recycling program,” said Nina Purewal general manager of TerraCycle Canada. Their leadership in helping us eliminate waste speaks to their commitment to sustainability. We are excited to be able to offer a recycling solution to this waste steam to consumers.” For more information, or to purchase the recycling sy