Nestlé and VANA push Danish sorting of aluminium coffee capsules with metal waste
Nestle Denmark and producer responsibility organisation VANA, backed by the Danish Energy Agency, say used aluminium coffee capsules should in future be sorted with household metal waste rather than general waste, including capsules still containing coffee grounds. The Energy Agency has indicated it may amend its household waste sorting guidance and the Waste Order's annex 6 to reflect this, and VANA is recommending municipalities update their sorting guidance, websites and apps accordingly.
Why this mattersRouting aluminium capsules into municipal metal streams, after PPWR reclassified them as packaging, would end their reliance on separate collection schemes in Denmark and lift aluminium recovery.
- Nestlé, VANA and VANA's waste processors documented the legal, technical, operational, environmental and workplace-safety aspects and presented the findings to the Danish Energy Agency
- Aluminium coffee capsules became packaging under the EU's PPWR from 12 August 2026
- The sorting technologies are already in operation in Denmark and in countries including Sweden, Finland and Germany
- The Energy Agency indicated it may make sense to amend its household waste sorting guidance (VEJ nr 9793 of 01/07/2022) and annex 6, point 5 of the Waste Order
- VANA recommends municipalities update digital sorting guidance, websites and waste apps
- The recommendation includes capsules still containing coffee grounds