Like most people, I always try to be as eco-friendly as possible, but for some, this can be hard, usually due to money and time.

The thing is, saving the planet doesn't have to cost you money, and it certainly doesn't take up a lot of your time. And today I'm going to show you how!

Many products leave me tossing and turning at night while trying to think of ways to reduce my trash. 

But today, I want to turn my attention to K-Cups. Below I want to explain the damages K-cups are causing to the environment and why we should switch to biodegradable K-cups.

The Dangerous Impact Of K-Cups

Looking at k-cups, you might not realize the damage they are having on the environment. I know what you're thinking "These tiny little pods couldn't cause any damage to the environment or our health, right?"

Sadly, the answer is YES.

This is for a couple of reasons, but the main reason is that K-cups are made with plastic and aluminum foil.

I'm sure by now you've heard of the effects materials such as aluminum and plastic can have on the environment, so I won't go into it too much.

Basically, most plastics contain BPA, which is a harmful chemical known to cause fertility issues.

The thing is:

Even plastic which claims to be BPA-free can still be incredibly harmful. And here's why:

The combination of aluminum, plastic, and acid (coffee) can cause serious harm to your body. And once heat is added to the mix, it allows harmful chemicals to leach from the k-cups causing side effects like Alzheimer's and anxiety along with a long list of other issues.

And the damage doesn't end there:

They generate a ton of waste, which, of course, is terrible for the environment. Our landfill systems can't keep up with the massive demand. And this isn't being helped with the number of k-cup pods that are consumed each day.

It's thought that over 24 million pods are used each day, with the majority being made from plastic.

So, what can we do about them? 

There are a few options we have to help minimize the damage K-cups are having, while still getting that quick coffee cup. Now, you do have to make a little effort, but the results could help save the planet one pod at a time.

Let me show you: 

Why Should We Use Biodegradable K-Cups?

If you genuinely want to help save the planet, then everything you own should either be reusable, biodegradable or recyclable. I understand this isn't always easy with some products, but it absolutely is with K-cups. 

Recently there have been several brands of biodegradable K-cups jump onto the market.

But why are they so good?

Well, biodegradable K-cups have NO PLASTIC and NO TIN FOIL! 

Just those two facts give them a thumbs up for me.

I want to mention that biodegradable products might feel as if they will just fade away. But this isn't always the case; it can take a little bit of work. For an item to biodegrade, they need three conditions:

1. Sunlight
2. Oxygen
3. Heat

Biodegradable K-cups can be chucked in the trash with everything else, but it's best if you consider composting them. This is so the K-cups receive the conditions they need to break down. 

By cutting the pods into tiny pieces and placing them in a compost heap, they can break down with old food and other products to leave the soil nutrients.   

If you don't already have a compost heap, you can start composting at home quickly. But if that doesn't interest you, there are commercial composting centers that will do the hard work for you!

So, that's a little bit about biodegradable K-cups, but are they recyclable? 

Recyclable K-Cups

Most K-cups are recyclable, which is good news, the problem is, recycling K-cups properly will take time off your schedule.

As I previously mentioned, K-cups are made out of: 

• PLASTIC 
• TINFOIL

The good news is both are recyclable! The downside is you have to clean them, separate them, and put each component in the correct bin as you do everything else you recycle.

Once you get the hang of it, it's a no brainer, but … it does take time. However, when you consider the amount of waste K-cups produce, time doesn't come into it. 

If you have the time on your hands and don't mind searching for a recycling center that accepts the plastic, then recycling can be pretty good.

But...

If you still want your K-cup fix and have no time to recycle your K-cups properly, please, please buy Biodegradable K-cups. It will help save the planet from further destruction, which in the end, is the ultimate goal.

Non-Recyclable K-Cups

You should never purchase non-recyclable K-cups, they really don't benefit anyone.

And here's why:

Only places that recycle #7 plastic can receive these cups, and honestly, there aren't that many places out there. If you don't have time to make a proper coffee cup, you probably don't have time to find a place that recycles #7 plastics.

Non-recyclable K-cups are a huge problem right now as 'The number of K-Cups Sent to landfills as of today could wrap around the planet more than ten times!' That is a lot of unnecessary waste.

So You Can't Find Biodegradable Or Recyclable K-Cups?

If you're not ready to leap into the biodegradable world, then fear not there's a few things you can try:

Get creative and do something cool with the empty pods, check out how to use them to decorate your home or garden. Upcycling is a great way to move towards a more eco-friendly lifestyle.

To Finish

In conclusion, if you enjoy K-cups, biodegradable is definitely the way to go. There are way too many little plastic cups in landfills, rivers, and oceans that will never go away.

In the end, it kills fish and livestock, all while slowly poisoning our water systems.

If you can't get biodegradable, please try to recycle or at least reuse your cups. But whatever you do, please, please don't throw them away like it's not your problem. Remember, It's the small things that make a difference.