Asda and Podback have celebrated a major sustainability milestone after customers recycled more than 20 million coffee pods through Asda stores in the first year of their nationwide partnership.
With over 250,000 Podback bags returned via toYou counters since January 2025, Asda now operates the largest in‑store coffee pod recycling network in the UK with over 600 stores – making it easier for Asda customers to make sustainable choices and help shoppers make recycling part of their weekly shop.
Asda customers embrace convenient in‑store coffee pod recycling
Asda’s in‑store return points are proving particularly popular with customers looking for an easy and reliable way to recycle used coffee pods. As coffee pods are small and contain organic residue, they’re difficult to recycle through kerbside collections. Through the Podback partnership, customers can simply fill a Podback bag and drop it at any participating Asda toYou counter.
One of the top‑performing stores is Asda Longwell Green in Bristol, where shoppers are dropping off an average of 51 Podback bags every week, underscoring how simple, in‑store services can quickly become part of the weekly shop.
How the Asda and Podback service works
Asda customers can recycle their used aluminium and plastic coffee pods in three simple steps:
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Fill a free Podback recycling bag at home
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Drop the sealed bag at any participating Asda toYou counter
The returned pods are given a new lease of life:
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Coffee grounds are transformed into renewable energy and soil improver
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Aluminium and plastic are used to create new products including drinks cans, building materials, and garden furniture
Beth Fowler, Senior Manager – Healthy and Sustainable Choices, at Asda, said: “Recycling 20 million coffee pods in our first year is a significant milestone for our partnership with Podback. By providing a straightforward, convenient return service in over 600 stores, we are making it easier for our customers to make sustainable choices. As we mark Global Recycling Day today, we want to encourage even more coffee lovers to bring their pods back on their next shop in our stores.”
Rick Hindley, Executive Director of Podback, said: “The first year of our partnership with Asda has been a very positive experience. We’ve seen the number of pods being returned through Asda toYou grow across the year, proving that if recycling is simple and convenient people will make it a part of their regular routine. We’re now excited to be looking at how we build on what we’ve achieved with Asda as we continue to expand access to simple, effective pod recycling.”
