Can I put a compostable pod in my backyard compost?

Not necessarily. Many need a commercial facility. Read the box and check what the maker says.

Can I compost the coffee grounds?

Yes, used grounds are plant material. Empty the pod first and put the grounds in your compost or food-scrap bin.

Are plastic pods recyclable?

It depends on your local program. Many ask you not to put them in the bin, so check with your city or hauler.

Are Coffee Pods Compostable? Read the Label

Some are and many are not. Standard plastic pods are not compostable. A pod is only compostable if the maker says so and, ideally, a certifier backs it up, and even then it usually needs a commercial composting facility rather than a backyard pile.

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Plastic pods and aluminum pods

Most single-serve pods are made of plastic or aluminum with a filter and a foil or plastic lid. A used plastic pod is not compostable. Whether it can be recycled depends on your local program, because small pods can slip through sorting equipment, and many programs ask you not to put them in the bin.

Aluminum pods are metal, so some programs and mail-back schemes accept them once emptied. Check with your own city or waste hauler, since the EPA notes that recycling rules are set locally.

What a compostable claim means

A compostable pod is made so that the whole pod, including the filter and lid, can break down in a composting system. The FTC Green Guides say a compostable claim should state clearly if the item needs a commercial facility, and should not suggest it will break down in a home pile if it will not.

Look for the exact wording on the box. Phrases such as plant-based or biodegradable describe the material or a general tendency, and they are not the same as compostable. A third-party certification mark is easier to check than a general green word, and the certifier's site lists the products it has approved.

Check whether your area can accept them

Find out whether your city has a commercial composting program that takes food scraps.
Ask whether that program accepts compostable pods, since some do not.
If it does not, a compostable pod will usually end up in the trash anyway, so the claim does not help you.

The coffee grounds

Used coffee grounds are plant material and can go in a home compost pile or a food-scrap bin if you empty the pod first. Separating the grounds from the pod is a simple step that works with any pod type.

Other ways to cut pod waste

A reusable filter cup that fits your machine avoids the pod altogether. Our compostable coffee pods guide explains how to compare pods by cost per cup and how to read the claims on the box.

Sources

FTC Green Guides (16 CFR Part 260)
US EPA guidance on checking local recycling rules
Third-party compostability certifier product lists

Are coffee pods compostable?

At a glance