High School Students Develop A 3D-Printed Device To Recycle Coffee Pods – CoffeeTalk

High School students Rafael Guzman, Luke Tyler, and Henry Griffith have developed the Coffee Pod Recycler, a 3D-printed device that separates the foil lid from the plastic cup of a coffee pod. The device allows users to empty the spent coffee grounds into the garbage or a compost bin, while the remaining components can be rinsed and recycled. The Coffee Pod Recyclers are made of biodegradable material called polylactic acid (PLA), which is durable, heat resistant, widely available, cheap, and easiest to use.

The team designed the Coffee Pod Recycler to be both simple to use and time-efficient, making it accessible to everyone at a reasonable price. With a pack of five retailing for $9, the co-founders are making sustainability accessible to everyone at a reasonable price. The teens took the Coffee Pod Recycler through several development stages before reaching a final prototype. The original design did not include a guide rail and had thicker blades, but the three founders felt that the device should fit more comfortably in consumers’ hands.

CPRC is now in the process of expanding their business with a patent pending and plans to make their Coffee Pod Recyclers compatible with Nespresso coffee capsules. They hope to sell their business before college. With climate change and the rise of carbon footprints, the goal of sustainability has become increasingly prevalent for many, especially among Generation Z. A simple change in a person’s everyday routine, such as using a Coffee Pod Recycler, can have a much larger impact than one might realize.

Adapting automatic daily routines, like making morning coffee, to better fit an eco-friendly lifestyle is essential for society to make progress on the path to restoring the planet. The three founders of the Coffee Pod Recycling Co. are on a path to success, driven by compassion and curiosity. Recognizing habits and processes that contribute to everyday waste and actively making changes and improvements is essential to restoring the environment. Adding a Coffee Pod Recycler to your morning coffee routine not only limits waste but also supports a growing business.

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