• The objective is total recycling, both of the materials making up the capsules and the organic waste remains inside.

• The collection system ensures the recycling of both the aluminium Nespresso capsules, and the plastic Nescafé Dolce Gusto capsules.

• The tip points in the Maresme area will be the places of collection of the used capsules, which will later be sent to the treatment centre in Mataró.

Mataró, 27 June 2012. The towns in the Maresme district, through the Consorci per al Tractament de Residus Sòlids Urbans del Maresme and the Consell Comarcal del Maresme, together with the company Nestlé, have started a collection and recycling network for beverage monodose capsules. The current laws do not allow this type of waste to be disposed of in yellow containers (for light packaging), thus, the tip points of the area will serve as collection points.

Each tip point will be equipped with two 120 litre containers, one for the aluminium capsules (Nespresso) and another for the plastic capsules (Nescafé Dolce Gusto). Once collected, the capsules will be sent to the Centre Integral de Valorització de Residus del Maresme, managed by the Consorci per al Tractament de Residus Sòlids Urbans del Maresme, which will function as logistics centre.

Monthly, Nestlé will take care of the transport of the aluminium and plastic capsules collected to the recycling plants where they will be treated. As a result, the materials of the capsule will be recycled separately, and high quality compost will be obtained from the coffee grounds.

The selective collection system of capsules was started in Switzerland. In Catalunya, it started a year ago in Barcelona and its metropolitan area. Maresme becomes, with the agreement, one of the first areas where this recycling system is implemented. Without a doubt, starting it means an extension of the waste public service and an improvement both thanks to the sustainable waste management and the promotion of responsible attitudes and good consumer practices.  

Begins the new process of collection and recycling of capsules. (Photograph: M. Cruz)