K-cup update

I've been using the Keurig brewer since Christmas, and have not had any disappointments with the quality.  My only concern is about the K-cups.  So I sent an email to the Keurig customer service center and inquired about recycling their K-cups.  Here was their response:

Thank you for your inquiry. The current structure of the K-Cup includes Oxygen and moisture barrier materials in order to maintain coffee freshness. As a result, the K-Cup is not recyclable. This is a universal issue throughout the food packaging industry and challenging for the companies to find environmentally friendly packaging materials. Keurig is currently engaged and aggressively investing in R&D to find alternate materials that will be recyclable and/or bio-degradable.


Keurig is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc., which is a leader in corporate social and environmental responsibility. With Green Mountain, we support local and global communities by investing in Fair Trade Certified coffee, offsetting 100% of our direct greenhouse gas emissions and donating at least 5% of pre-tax earnings to social and environmental causes. GMCR is the first company to be ranked #1 on the Business Ethics list of America’s most ethical and socially – responsible business two years in a row.

Again, thank you and if we can assist you further, please do not hesitate to contact us.

I know Keurig has the reusable K-cup but I have really enjoyed picking individual flavors each morning.  So for now, I will wait and see how Keurig will find a solution to the compromise.