What's Happening with Terracycling?
The Waste Action Group wants to help you continue your good recycling habits while keeping up social distancing.
Our drop-off units are closed for the time-being, but eventually we will be able to restart collecting and we are looking forward to the day when we can send off all your recycling again!
If you have space at home, you can continue collecting:
· Dental Waste
· Contact Lens Waste
· Beauty Waste
· Pens & Textas
· Bread Tags
NOTE: Media Waste Collection scheme is now CLOSED.
Batteries can be recycled at the Transfer Station for free, along with many other items. Please check the MRSC website or Loddon Mallee Waste app for latest updates on what you can recycle at the Transfer Station:
https://www.mrsc.vic.gov.au/Live-Work/Bins-Rubbish-Recycling/Transfer-Stations/Accepted-Items-Fees
Coffee Pods
Reusable Pods:
Now is the perfect time to purchase a reuseable pod kit! You can purchase reusable pods for most Nespresso and Nescafe Dolce Gusto machines. L’Or single shot pods are the same size as Nespresso pods, so they can also be replaced with a reusable pod. Tampers are a good idea, and you can buy other accessories like measuring spoons which will help you use the correct amount of coffee.
Reusable pod kits for Nespresso machines are available from Mort & Pestle in Woodend:
For those who are not able to switch to reusable pods, here are your recycling options:
Nescafe Dulce Gusto & Moccona/L’Or pods
The only option to recycle these pods is through the Terracycle collection scheme. Therefore, for these pod users ONLY, the Waste Action Group can offer a temporary solution.
Bucket-Exchange: This is a limited service for MRSG members only
Borrow a 20lt white, sealable bucket from the Waste Action Group, and return when full to an address in Woodend. The bucket can then be emptied and disinfected, and the pods sent to Terracycle. You can then collect a new clean bucket for filling.
Email to register interest in this exchange scheme: waste@mrsg.org.au
*Sorry, we can’t offer this service to Nespresso pod users as we know from experience that there are simply too many of you!*
Luckily, there are some alternatives.
For Nespresso pods
1. Upcycling at Home
Start by separating the coffee grounds from the aluminium capsule by safely removing the coffee grounds with a teaspoon.
Use the coffee grounds in your compost or in your garden – it makes a wonderful fertiliser!
Either keep the aluminium until collection points re-open or collect the aluminium scraps in empty aluminium drink or food cans, pinch to close if necessary and place in your kerbside recycling. By collecting the smaller pieces of aluminium into a larger item, you will increase the recyclability of this highly recyclable metal. Small scraps are not easily recycled as they are often missed in the sorting process.
2. Other Recycling Options:
o Australia Post Recycling Satchel:
You can buy Nespresso Australia Post Recycling satchels online (although they appear to be out of stock at the time of writing) and drop the full satchel into any Australia Post box.
o Set up your own Bulk recycling:
Nespresso Bulk Recycling Box Kits are still available, and you can organise collection of filled boxes from your home. For those wondering how many pods a box takes, the Waste Action Group usually collects enough pods to fill a single collection box at the monthly Woodend Farmers’ Market. Volume is approximately 60 litres of pods (about 3 x 20lt buckets’ worth). If you know neighbours and friends who use the pods, you could arrange a no-contact drop-off in your immediate neighbourhood.
3. Finally, Collect and store:
You can continue to collect your used Nespresso capsules and store them until things return to normal. We recommend you make sure the pods are as dry as possible and store them in an air-tight or sealable bag or container in a cool, dry place. When our collection service is back up, we can arrange for these pods to be returned to Nespresso for recycling.
