Podback Reviews 

277
•
TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

4.4

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Evaluating 158 reviews, reviewers overwhelmingly had a great experience with this company. Customers frequently praise the fast delivery of recycling bags and find the online ordering process extremely straightforward and free of charge. People appreciate having a very convenient way to deposit used coffee pods at participating local supermarkets, making the entire recycling routine simple and accessible. However, some customers also noted that traveling long distances to reach distant drop-off locations or limited supermarket collection points makes recycling quite inconvenient. A few reviewers expressed frustration over recent changes to local collection spots, full drop-off containers, and difficulties finding participating stores nearby.

What people talk about most

Product

Reviewers highlight positive aspects of product, noting that the recycling system makes it easy to collect... See more

Order

Reviewers mention positive feedback about order, noting that obtaining free recycling bags online is quick,... See more

Service

Customers consistently note positive experiences with service, highlighting that reordering bags is quick and... See more

Location

Customers had ambiguous experiences with location, noting that while some drop-off points like local... See more

Delivery service

Users describe positive interactions with delivery service, noting that recycling bags arrive quickly and the... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

The only place that will take the pods for recycling is Asda in Kidderminster which is a 10 mile trip for me to drive. Perhaps you could consider expanding the number of places to take the pods

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Gwynedd Council's recycling leaflet mentioned that coffee pods can be recycled via a company called podback.org. I was really pleased to learn this because I'd been feeling guilty about adding my... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great way of recycling coffee pods. Pop into bags provided by podback. Drop off in local participanting Costa which happens to be in my Tesco so very convenient when shopping and when you run out of b... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great idea having bags delivered to put coffee pods in. I fill these bags to the required maximum and take them to Waitrose, where there is a collection box. You cannot use this box unless you have a... See more

Company replied


Company details

  1. Waste Collection Service

Written by the company

Podback: the UK's coffee pod recycling service. We are working with coffee brands, retailers, local authorities and recyclers to give your used coffee pods a new life—from plastic and aluminium turned into new products to coffee grounds used to create renewable energy and soil improver. With a growing network of drop-off points available in supermarkets, coffee shops and recycling centres, we’re working on ways to make recycling pods part of your regular routine. Podback is a not-for-profit organisation, funded by our member brands.


Contact info

  • Suite 4, 4 Hilliards Court, Chester Business Park, CH4 9QP, Chester, United Kingdom

  • podback.org

4.4

Excellent

TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

277 reviews

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No recent history of asking for reviews

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4.4

All reviews

(277)

154 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Podback bags delivered to my home

Podback bags delivered to my home.
When full I take to local recycling centre in Wellingborough or local Co-op supermarket.
Makes recycling coffee pods really easy.

16 June 2026
Unprompted review
Podback logo

Reply from Podback

Thank you for your wonderful review, Julie.

We're delighted to hear that you're finding Podback easy and convenient to use. Having recycling bags delivered directly to your home and being able to return them at either your local recycling centre or Co-op supermarket is exactly the kind of flexibility we aim to provide.

It's great to know that the service is helping make coffee pod recycling a simple part of your routine. Every bag returned helps ensure valuable materials are recovered and recycled, so thank you for doing your part.

We really appreciate your support and thank you for taking the time to share your experience.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I’ve been dropping my podback at…

I’ve been dropping my podback at Morrisons a few times. Didn’t know that podback bags are available at Morrisons customer service counter. Really so happy to know that, so I don’t need to get them by post.

16 June 2026
Unprompted review
Podback logo

Reply from Podback

Thank you for your lovely review, Ms Chow.

We're delighted to hear that you've been using the Podback service at Morrisons and that discovering you can collect recycling bags from the customer service desk has made the process even more convenient for you.

Making pod recycling as easy and accessible as possible is our goal, so it's great to know that being able to pick up bags while you're already in store is helping to simplify things.

Thank you for supporting pod recycling and for taking the time to share your experience.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Podbags

Very easy to recycle and order new podbags and there are many places to take your bags to empty.

16 June 2026
Unprompted review
Podback logo

Reply from Podback

Thank you for your review, William.

We're delighted to hear that you've found Podback easy to use, from ordering new recycling bags to dropping off your filled bags at a convenient collection point.

Making coffee pod recycling simple and accessible is at the heart of what we do, so it's great to know that the process is working well for you and that you have plenty of nearby options for returning your pods.

Thank you for supporting pod recycling and for taking the time to share your positive experience with us. Every bag returned helps make a difference.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Good, simple, recycling process

We’re only a two-person household, so it takes a while to fill a bag, but it’s a great service. Easy to order the bags (which is good because our local supermarkets don’t always have them).

16 June 2026
Unprompted review
Podback logo

Reply from Podback

Thank you for your 5-star review, Vicky.

We're delighted to hear that you're finding the service easy to use. Whether a bag fills up in a few weeks or a few months, every pod returned helps ensure valuable materials are recycled and kept out of landfill.

It's also great to know that ordering bags online has been convenient for you. We understand that bag availability can vary at some collection points, so we're pleased that the home ordering option helps make recycling your pods as straightforward as possible.

Thank you for taking the time to support pod recycling and for sharing your experience with us.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

speedy response with bags

speedy response with bags, however limited places in the SW to drop off, eventually got to Morrisons in Exeter and there were bags every where looked like it hadn't been collected in weeks, in fact there had been bags put in nearby bin.

1 May 2026
Unprompted review
Podback logo

Reply from Podback

Thank you for your review, Matt.

We're pleased to hear that you received your recycling bags quickly, but we're sorry to learn about your experience when dropping them off.

The situation you described at the Morrisons collection point is certainly not the standard we aim for, and we appreciate you bringing it to our attention. Collection points should be maintained and serviced regularly to ensure they remain convenient and easy to use. We'll share your feedback with the relevant teams so that the issue can be resolved.

We also understand your frustration regarding the limited number of drop-off locations in some parts of the South West. We're continually working with our partners to expand the network and improve accessibility wherever possible.

Thank you for taking the time to support pod recycling despite these challenges, and for helping us identify areas where we can improve the service.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant and simple service

Brilliant and simple service, finally my used pods aren't just ending up in landfill. The bags are great and it's no hassle to drop them at the local point when full.

9 June 2026
Unprompted review
Podback logo

Reply from Podback

Thank you for your fantastic review!

We're delighted to hear that you're finding the service both simple and convenient. Making coffee pod recycling easy is exactly what we set out to do, so it's great to know the bags and local drop-off points are working well for you.

Thank you for taking the time to recycle your used pods and helping to keep valuable materials out of landfill. Every bag returned makes a difference, and we're grateful to have you as part of the Podback community.

Thanks again for your support!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

This is such an easy thing to do

This is such an easy thing to do! We shop in Tesco and that is where our shopping is done and our collection point, so for us it’s a no brainer shop and drop off at the same time. Thank you for all involved in this simple exercise.

9 June 2026
Unprompted review
Podback logo

Reply from Podback

Thank you for your wonderful review, Jerry.

We're delighted to hear that Podback fits so easily into your regular shopping routine. Making pod recycling as convenient as possible is a key part of what we do, so it's fantastic to know that being able to drop off your filled bags at Tesco while doing your shopping makes it such a straightforward process for you.

Thank you for taking the time to recycle your coffee pods and for your kind words about the service. We'll be sure to share your feedback with the teams involved, who work hard to make pod recycling simple and accessible for everyone.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Very good service and good to know that…

Very good service and good to know that someone is doing something for the environment.

9 June 2026
Unprompted review
Podback logo

Reply from Podback

Thank you for your review, Anthony.

We're delighted to hear that you've had a positive experience with the service. It's especially rewarding to know that our commitment to helping recycle coffee pods and recover valuable materials is appreciated.

Thank you for playing your part too – every bag returned helps make a difference. We appreciate your support and are pleased to have you as part of the Podback community.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Good to recycle

Great service to get Royalmail to collect from your doorstep ( you have to now book via Nespresso website but didn’t used to). We fill a bag to the line each month, it would be good to get more places to get back from, I get my neighbours to get me 20 bags with their Ocado orders as we stop using them a year back and the only other place us going to Nespresso in Bluewater to get them. I knocked a star off because of that.

3 April 2026
Unprompted review
Podback logo

Reply from Podback

Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review, we appreciate your support on our mission to ensure every pod enjoyed is recycled.

If you need bags, you can sign up for an account on the Podback website and we can send you out up to 5 bags at a time.

Many thanks,
The Podback Team

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Was great when you could drop them off…

Was great when you could drop them off with Yodel. I don’t drive and the nearest Morrisons/Costa is miles away , local recycling centre that accepts them won’t let you on the premises on foot/bike. House rapidly filling up with full bags of coffee pods now. Probably end up binning them sadly.

6 February 2026
Unprompted review
Podback logo

Reply from Podback

Hello Hovis,

Thank you for taking the time to leave a review.

We’re sorry to hear that the change from the Yodel service has made recycling your coffee pods more difficult, particularly as you don’t drive. We understand how frustrating this situation must be.

The decision to end the Yodel service was made following a high number of complaints from users, including difficulties printing labels and some locations refusing to accept bags. We have since moved to a retail drop-off network, launching with 1,000 locations and adding a further 300 so far, and we’re continuing to expand to make recycling more convenient for as many people as possible.

Best wishes,
The Podback Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Very Positive Experience

To counter some of the negative reviews, my experience has been really positive, the bags are ordered from Podback direct and are shipped quickly. First time at my local Asda, one customer service rep didn't know what I was talking about but her colleague quickly advised her and the label was quickly printed. Also my local recycling centre (Pyle) has special bins for Podback, separate ones for plastic and aluminium pods.

23 January 2026
Unprompted review
Podback logo

Reply from Podback

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience.

We’re really pleased to hear that ordering Podback bags has been straightforward and that they arrived quickly. It’s also great to know that the team at your local Asda were able to help get the label printed smoothly — feedback like this helps reassure others that support is there when needed.

We love hearing that Pyle recycling centre is working well for you too, especially with the separate bins for plastic and aluminium pods. That’s exactly how the system is designed to work, so it’s fantastic to know it’s making recycling easier locally.

Thanks again for sharing such positive feedback — it really does make a difference.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Terrible Customer Service

I have two coffee machines, a Dolce Gusto and Nespresso. I ordered podback bags for Dolce Gusto and they were provided without issue. I attempted to order additional bags for my Nespresso machine to place Aldi Alcafe aluminium pods in and the website told me "We're sorry but it's not possible to order bags from us today" and to wait until the end of February.

I emailed customer service and asked if I could order bags for an additional machine for Alcafe pods and they told me to contact Nespresso, I went back and explained again that I required different bags for Alcafe pods and they told me to order them on their website, I initially contacted them as I was unable to do this. I went back a third time and they advised me to change the type of bag required and wait 24 hours. I did that five days ago and am still unable to order. At this point, I've just given up trying.

20 January 2026
Unprompted review
Podback logo

Reply from Podback

Hello John,

Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We’ve looked into your conversation with our customer service team and agree that your query wasn’t fully understood — we’re sorry for the confusion caused.

To clarify, if you’d like to order two different types of Podback bags, you’ll need to update your coffee pod preference in your account and then wait 24 hours for our system to reset. After this, you’ll be able to order the alternative bag type.

An alternative option is to set up two Podback accounts using different email addresses, with each account set to a different pod type.

We’ll be reviewing this feedback as part of our customer service training to help prevent this happening again.

Best wishes,
The Podback Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Asda Newton Abbot staff brilliant.

Asda Newton Abbot

1 January 2026
Unprompted review
Podback logo

Reply from Podback

Hi Ian,

Thank you so much for your 5-star review. We are really glad that the Asda store staff at Newton Abbot were able to help you recycle your Podback bags.

Best wishes,
The Podback Team

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Full bags being dumped by Costa!

Our local recycling collection point is Costa in Ludlow. Took a bag in, they refused to take it saying they couldn't recycle it and the scheme was ended. Contacted Podback and Costa, both said the scheme was running and the store should be taking the bags. Filled another bag, took it in a month later. Again they refused to take it saying they had no way of recycling it and had already dumped 50 full bags brought to them. Showed them the emails from Costa HQ, it made no difference. In the end she took the bag but said she'd just be throwing it away! The next nearest drop off is a 30 min drive away. This is useless! Emailed Costa and Podback again, no reply.

18 December 2025
Unprompted review
Podback logo

Reply from Podback

Hello Yvonne,

Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. We’re sorry for the inconvenience you experienced.

We’re currently working closely with the Costa team to resolve this issue. In the meantime, we’ve temporarily removed this location from our interactive map to avoid further confusion.

We understand that you’ve been in touch with our customer service team, who have shared alternative ways for you to recycle your pods while this is being sorted.

Best wishes,
The Podback Team

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Tried to find nearest co-op and there…

Tried to find nearest co-op and there didn’t seem to be any. Was excited to think I could recycle as I have several co-ops near me. Kept bringing up local recycling and stores other than Co-op!!!

26 November 2025
Unprompted review
Podback logo

Reply from Podback

Hello Susan,

Thank you for sharing your experience. We’re currently running a trial with selected Co-op stores, so only participating locations will appear in the search results. The trial will run for six months, and if it proves successful, we hope to expand the service to more stores. We appreciate your interest in recycling with Podback, we are activley working to expand our network of drop-off locations and hope to announce more in the New Year.

Best wishes,
The Podback Team

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

The link for the nearest store sends…

The link for the nearest store sends you to a forbidden page? 🤷🏽‍♂️

25 November 2025
Unprompted review
Podback logo

Reply from Podback

Hello Gary,

Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review, please can you complete our contact us form to explain where your were experiencing this issue, as we are not able to replicate it. https://podback.org/contact-us

Many thanks,
The Podback Team

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Used to recycle podback bags at the…

I used to take podback bags to the local co op but that site no longer accepts them. 25 mile round trip to the nearest site.
Was checking the website to see if anything had improved but it is not working. 403 forbidden error message.

19 November 2025
Unprompted review
Podback logo

Reply from Podback

Hello Janet,

Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. You are getting a 403 error because you are either not in the UK or you have an active VPN. To access the Podback website. Please turn off the VPN, you will then be able to access the Podback website.

Best wishes,
The Podback Team

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

All the parties involved need to sort out their problems

This issue has gone on for years! It is now at ridiculous levels! We have a Tassimo machine and trying to adhere to the recycling policy is now almost impossible! None of the supermarkets who are meant to issue bags and are all saying that they can’t get supplies of the recycling bags! I spoke to Tassimo customer service today and they said that it was nothing to do with them? I should look at the podbags website and order them online. Unfortunately to do this you have to open an account and we have previously had issues with the account when we had one ie tracking and data trading, so we are not going to go down this wormhole again! Our local council also has not signed up to the pod recycling scheme,so the only options available to us are to use a standard carrier bag to deposit them or put them in the recycling bin and hope that somewhere in the system they are picked up ( I don’t think it’s possible)?

7 November 2025
Unprompted review
Podback logo

Reply from Podback

Hello Gavin, Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We’re genuinely sorry to hear that you feel dissatisfied with your experience.

We apologise that you are struggling to get Podback bags in-store. Morrisons and Costa Coffee in Tesco are responsible for stocking bags. Podback sends bags to their central distribution centres.

However, we do want to clarify an important point in your comment. We do not track customers, and we never sell, trade, or share personal data with any third parties. Data protection is something we take extremely seriously, and we operate fully in line with GDPR and all applicable privacy regulations.

If there was any confusion regarding your previous account or how the service worked, we would be more than happy to look into this and provide clarity. Please feel free to contact our customer support team directly at https://podback.org/contact-us so we can assist you further.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Not impressed

Not impressed. We used to send pods for recycling via courier and this service has been cancelled. There is no drop off location near me, so I just drove 5 miles out of my way to a location listed on the website (costa coffee in Tescos New Malden) only to be told they don’t accept them. Hie on earth am I supposed to stop them becoming land fill? Sort it out!!!!!!

23 September 2025
Unprompted review
Podback logo

Reply from Podback

Hello Natalie,

Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. You are not the only person to bring this to our attention. We are in communication with Costa Coffee about this but it is taking longer than expected to resolve. As a temporary measure, we have removed this location off our map and we are advising users to use one of our alternative drop-off locations on our map. Once it's confirmed that the issue has been resolved, we will put it back on on our Recycle Checker map.

Best wishes,
The Podback Team

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Podback still making no progress

For months Podback have been responding with the message "We’re continuing to work hard to improve and expand the service so it’s as straightforward and reliable as possible for everyone.". I see no evidence of this! It's still impossible for me to recycle pods without a 20 mile round trip. I can't currently drive for medical reasons so feel discriminated against since they stopped the local drop-off. I realise it's a free service but I'll sadly be giving up and using the nice strong plastic bags the pod makers keep sending us to dump the pods to landfill.

9 September 2025
Unprompted review
Podback logo

Reply from Podback

Hello Mark,

Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We’re sorry to hear that the removal of Yodel has made using the Podback service less convenient for you.

As you have highlighted, we are working hard to expand our network. As you can imagine, Working with large retailers and rolling out to hundred's of stores takes time. We hope to announce more locations in the coming months.

Best regards,
The Podback Team

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