Nespresso Australia has launched a paid doorstep collection service for used aluminium coffee capsules, beginning with a pilot program in metropolitan Sydney.
The new service allows customers to arrange for used capsules to be collected from their home or another nominated location and transported for recycling.
Customers can purchase a Doorstep Collection Bag for a partially subsidised fee of $5 when placing a coffee order. Each bag holds up to 180 Original capsules or 90 Vertuo capsules.
Once the bag is full, customers seal it and arrange collection through the Nespresso app, leaving it at their nominated collection point for pickup.
Nespresso Australia and New Zealand managing director Stefan Vermeulen said customer research had identified convenience as an important factor in recycling participation.
“The introduction of this service now means there are five ways to get involved in our recycling program, giving more choice to our community,” Vermeulen said.
Capsules collected through the service will be transported to a recycling facility in Tomago, NSW, where the aluminium and coffee grounds are separated. According to Nespresso, the aluminium is returned to the aluminium industry for use in new products, while the coffee grounds are repurposed for applications including compost, fertilisers and soil conditioners.
Doorstep Collection extends the company’s existing recycling network, which includes returns through Nespresso boutiques, participating public collection points, private bulk collection points and Australia Post.
Nespresso said the Sydney pilot would be used to gather customer feedback and refine the service before a planned expansion to other Australian locations. The company has not yet announced a timetable for the broader rollout.
