Milan Launches City-Wide Aluminum Coffee Capsule Recycling Program

Milan, Italy, is expanding its waste management capabilities to include aluminum coffee capsules in its existing yellow bag recycling system, effective March 9, 2026. This initiative, a first of its kind collective system, is the result of collaboration between the Municipality of Milan, Amsa, A2A Ambiente, the National Aluminum Packaging Consortium (CIAL), and Nespresso.

Expanding Recycling Infrastructure

Previously, aluminum coffee capsules were not classified as packaging due to their contents and structure, leading to their disposal as undifferentiated waste. The new system leverages an eddy current separator (ECS) at the A2A Ambiente sorting plant in Muggiano, Milan, to efficiently separate small aluminum items – including coffee capsules, caps, blister packs, and other metal components – from other waste materials. City of Milan

How the Technology Works

The ECS technology detects even the smallest aluminum fractions, preventing them from being lost during the sorting process and ensuring they enter the recycling stream. This allows the aluminum to be melted and transformed into new products. The collaboration with Nespresso and CIAL was crucial in verifying and ensuring the effectiveness of this detection and separation system. AMSA

Benefits of Aluminum Recycling

Aluminum is 100% recyclable and can be reused infinitely without losing its core properties. Recycling aluminum is particularly beneficial for Italy, which lacks domestic bauxite production (the ore from which aluminum is extracted). Recycling reduces the need for imported raw materials and saves 95% of the energy required to produce aluminum from virgin resources. Il Sole 24 Ore

Alignment with EU Regulations

This initiative proactively addresses upcoming changes in EU packaging regulations. The new Ppwr (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation), effective August 2026, will officially recognize coffee capsules as packaging, mandating their inclusion in separate waste collection systems. Milan’s implementation demonstrates a concrete application of these forthcoming regulations. Il Sole 24 Ore

Statements from Key Stakeholders

Elena Grandi, Councillor for the Environment and Green Areas at the Municipality of Milan, emphasized that placing aluminum capsules in the yellow bag simplifies waste management for citizens and improves separate waste collection rates. Marcello Milani, CEO of Amsa, highlighted Milan’s position as a leader in separate waste collection among European metropolises, currently at over 63%. Monica Pellegrini, operational director of Nespresso Italiana, noted the project’s alignment with Nespresso’s existing recycling initiatives, including “From Chicco to Chicco” and a home collection service, which have recovered over 3,500 tons of capsules in Milan and 6,000 tons in Lombardy since 2011. City of Milan

Public Awareness Campaign

To ensure successful implementation, Amsa and CIAL, with support from Nespresso, will launch a public awareness campaign. This campaign will include physical advertising on the streets of Milan, as well as promotion through press, digital channels, and social media platforms. The system will be progressively extended to municipalities served by Amsa in the surrounding areas. City of Milan