One common criticism about single-serving coffee makers like Keurigs is that they create significantly more waste than regular drip coffee makers. Most single-serve machines use plastic pods or K-cups for each drink, and if your family brews a few beverages per day, that adds up to thousands of plastic pods being used and tossed out every year.
There are a few ways to make your single-serve coffee machine a bit more eco-friendly. Perhaps the easiest way is to just recycle your K-cups. Keurig’s own K-cups are 100% recyclable—but there are a few caveats. The lids have to be removed and thrown away, and you also have to empty out the coffee grounds before putting the plastic shell into the recycling. Additionally, the pods are made from #5 plastic, which isn’t accepted in some curbside recycling programs. Another alternative is to purchase a reusable K-cup, which you can fill up with your own coffee, but they’re not compatible with all Keurig models.
