Coffee capsules represent an example of a product with a bad design that does not allow its correct management as waste and recycling. Their small size and the fact that they are still full of organic content when they have become waste makes it difficult to recycle them, even though most of them are made of aluminum and it is a completely recyclable material. Furthermore, it is a product that does not cover any real need in society and that presents many traditional and more sustainable alternatives, such as the use of Italian coffee makers and bulk ground coffee.
Evolution of the estimated amount of coffee capsules consumed in the Balearic Islands and its associated waste generation
Source:Alimarket and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of the Spanish Government
The consumption of capsules shows a general trend of growth since the appearance of this product some 15 years ago, although between 2018 and 2021, consumption has stabilised at around 70 million capsules per year, probably associated with the covid-19 crisis. The year 2021 presents the maximum generation for the period studied, 73.4 million units, more than 10 times the generation of 2010.
It should be noted that capsule waste consists of a container (usually aluminium or plastic) and a majority of organic waste (coffee and moisture), which must be managed in the residual fraction because it is not easily separable. With capsule-free coffee consumption alternatives, the organic waste generated could be composted, while avoiding capsule container waste.