Did you know that almost all tea bags and coffee pods used in the Netherlands are compostable? Therefore, dispose of them as organic waste (GFT).
Many people were already throwing their coffee pods and tea bags in the organic waste bin, just by instinct. Plastic in the filter material was contaminating the compost. The sector has now removed this plastic. Coffee and tea producers in the Netherlands have agreed with the national government to make their coffee pods and tea bags from fully compostable materials.
88 million kilos of extra compost
A staggering 93 percent of tea bags and 97 percent of all coffee pods are now compostable, according to the Dutch Coffee & Tea Association, based on a sample survey conducted by Rijkswaterstaat (the Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management). All coffee pods and tea bags now allowed in the organic waste stream yield approximately 88 million kilos of additional compost, according to the association. This is beneficial for agriculture and horticulture, helping crops grow better, and for home gardens.
Please note: coffee capsules should be disposed of with residual waste.
Coffee capsules (cups) do belong in residual waste. Compostable coffee capsules, like many other hard plastics, often don't break down sufficiently in composting facilities. In the long term, manufacturers want to try to recycle aluminum cups effectively. Plans for this are still in the works.
What is and isn't allowed in vegetable, fruit and garden waste?
Curious about what else is allowed and what isn't in your vegetable, fruit, and garden waste? Check out our separation rules for kitchen waste, fine garden waste, animals and aids in waste separation.
For more tips, visit waardlanden.nl/tips