New system to recycle coffee grounds comingBy Esme Yeh / Staff reporterA reverse-circulation logistics system has been established to recycle and repurpose coffee grounds produced at convenience stores, Minister of Environment Peng Chi-ming (彭?明) said on Tuesday. People in Taiwan consume more than 3.7 billion cups of coffee, producing about 111,000 tonnes of coffee grounds, every year, but only 10 percent of the grounds enter the recycling system, Peng said. Photo: Hunag Yi-ching, Taipei TimesHowever, coffee grounds are difficult to recycle, as sources are scattered and each has relatively small amounts of coffee grounds, increasing the recycling costs, he said. Given that coffee recycling has a relatively small economic scale and unstable supply of materials, it is difficult to connect industries to build a coffee grounds recycling system, he said. The coffee grounds circulation system is expected to be extended to more convenience stores, coffee brands, restaurants and beverage manufacturers, as well as public participation, he said.

Source: Taipei Times January 03, 2026 18:00 UTC