Cleaning the K Cups
Use the K Cup. Since a K Cup is a single-use beverage maker, use it once. You will want to clean the K Cup regardless of its final destination to prevent bacterial growth.
Remove the lid. The foil lid on top is punctured but not removed during the brewing process, so completely remove it.
Dispose of any remnants. There may be solids or liquids still inside the K Cup which need to be removed.
Wash and Rinse. With soap and water, clean out the K Cup to prevent bacterial growth. Then rinse to remove soap residue.
Allow to fully dry. Let air dry overnight to prevent bacterial growth.
Recycling the K Cup
Follow the cleaning steps.
Purchase a separator. These can be found online and in some stores. Due to the K Cup's three layers, it cannot be recycled without being separated.
Follow the directions. The most common K Cup Recycler, the Recycle A Cup, is very simple to use - just attach to the top, rotate, and pull up. Other Recyclers work almost identically.
Rinse off the layers. K Cups have three layers that protect the mix from the environment and are sometimes adhered together. A quick rinse in hot water should remove any adhesive that may be present.
Recycle. Now the fun part starts! There are a few options you have now: Municipal recycling - most can handle the separated parts, just place in the bin. Preserve Recycling - this organization will accept K Cups mailed to them for recycling. Recycle A Cup - this company will recycle K Cups mailed to them for recycling. Keurig - in some areas, Keurig and their energy partner, Covanta, will compost some parts and use the other parts for energy. Sustainability Offices - some colleges, companies, and schools have programs that accept K cups for recycling and/or composting. Others - a quick online search can reveal more local and regional recycling, composting, or energy options for old K CupsRecycle K Cups Step 10.jpg
Reusing the K Cup
Follow the cleaning steps.
Get Creative. Here are some ideas of ways to reuse a K Cup; Small plant cup. If you have a plant you do not intend on eating, K Cups make great mini pots. Since the plastic is not designed for repeated usage or prolonged exposure to water, do not eat plants that were grown in a K Cup. String lights. Micro LED bulbs can be used to make a decorative string of lights - just cut a small hole in the top and stick the bulb in, gluing if needed. Only use LEDs as incandescents may cause the K Cups to overheat and burn. Egg dye holder. To get the two halves of the egg dyed different colors, fill a K Cup with coloring and place the egg (in shell) in the cup. Again, K Cups are not designed for repeated usage or prolonged water exposure so eating is not advised. Small organizers. Cleaned K Cups can be used to store most anything that won't be eaten. Once decorated, K Cups can be a creative way to store supplies.Recycle K Cups Step 12.jpg
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