New materials accepted at Northumberland’s household waste recovery centres

Two new bins for coffee pod recycling have been introduced at each of the 12 sites – one for metal pods and one for plastic. The coffee remains from the bottom of the pods will be sent for composting as part of the process.

To deliver the scheme, the council has partnered with Podback, a service that was set up by Nestle and Jacobs Douwe Egberts in 2021 to make coffee pod recycling easy and convenient for consumers across the UK.

Through Podback, plastic and aluminium pods are recycled in the UK. The coffee grounds are transformed by anaerobic digestion into renewable energy and soil improver, with the aluminium and plastic from the used pods being used in the manufacture of new products such as drinks cans, building products and garden furniture.

Additionally, seven sites are trialling the recycling of carpet underlay, preventing this from going to landfill. Recycling skips are now available for this at Alnwick, Bebside, Hexham, Haltwhistle, Kirkley West Thorne, North Seaton, and Prudhoe.

When recycling standard underlay, all plastic and carpet grippers should be removed. The skips are likely to be expanded to other HWRCs if the trial proves successful.

Councillor John Riddle, cabinet member responsible for the Environment said: “Accepting new materials at our household waste recovery centres is something we are continuously striving to do.

“The more we can reuse and recycle as a county, the more raw materials we can divert from going to energy-from-waste or landfill, keeping them in use for longer.”

Richard Hinchcliffe, Regional Manager for SUEZ said, “We’re proud to work with Northumberland County Council on efforts to increase recycling. Keeping materials in use for longer is key to our sustainability and creating a future with less waste.”

More information about Northumberland’s household waste recovery centres, including, locations, opening times and what materials can be accepted.