1. Edible Ink
2. Veg paper
3. Coffee!
4. Bio-shell
Our 4WKS pod is made from 100% compostable materials, meaning the pouch, pods + coffee can be composted together!
4WKS Returns to Earth
Returning your used 4WKS pods to our 4WKS Composting Network 🗺️
We’ve partnered with yWaste so you can return your used 4WKS pods to different collection points around Cape Town and we’ll send them to yWaste's commercial composting farm in Philippi to breakdown extra quickly into nutritious soil.
We realise that not everyone has access to this network, and that there are only a few commercial composting sites available in SA. Send us an email or DM and we’ll point you in the direction of other collection services beyond CPT.
Wherever you are, we encourage you to shift with us, and take responsibility for where our used pods end up. The Western Cape government aims to reduce 100% of food waste going into landfills by 2027. Together we can get there! Every pod counts! ☕️
Tips on Composting 4WKS at Home
Our pods are certified home-compostable by "OK Compost Home". We understand that each home composting environment is unique, from worm farms to bokashi bins. The time your pods take to decompose will fluctuate depending on your method. Don’t worry, our pods will break down into life-giving soil, a little patience goes a long way 😉
Below, you'll find some of our top tips to ensure your pods (pouch and all) will be food for the worms in no time!
- Our pods break down faster in hot composting environments.
- Your compost heap should be at least half a cubic metre.
- Throw your used pods in the middle of the heap (this is where it gets the hottest).
- Water your heap well!
- Turn your compost often, introducing fresh oxygen.
- Try your best to reach temperatures of around 65 degrees.
- Don’t panic if the coffee and veggie lid decompose quicker than the shell.
- Let Nature do her thing, in roughly 3 months, your pods will return to nutritious compost.
- Enjoy the feeling of scattering fresh soil as food for your plants!
Or find a collection service near you
We’re working hard to expand our used 4WKS pods Drop-Off Network all over SA but, for now, our current #4WKSReturnsToEarth campaign is limited to Cape Town (and those who compost their pods at home, of course!), and until 31 December 2023.
Beyond returning your used pods to any of our partner cafés, SA has some excellent food waste collection companies that play a vital role in ensuring our organic waste doesn’t end up in landfill. If you’re interested in having all of your waste composted, check them out:
CPT
For those outside of Cape Town, fear not: there are amazing compost collection services for you, too! ⬇️ Pop them an email or message to find out more about how they can help you ensure your food waste (4WKS pods included!) isn’t wasted, and ends up back where it belongs 🌱
JHB
Areas they service:
- Dainfern
- Fourways
- Lonehill
- Bryanston
- Morningside
- Waterfall
(and everywhere in-between, pop them a message to request the service in your area)
Message them to find out if they service your area.
Areas they service:
- Riverclub
- Parkmore
- Sunninghill
- Fairlands
- Killarney/Riviera
- Parkhurst/Parkview
- Parktown
- Boskruin
- Floracliffe
- Randpark Ridge
- Linksfield
- Lonehill
- Sandton
- Honeydew/Northriding
- Constantia Kloof
- Midrand
- Fourways
- Northcliff
- Cresta
DBN
They service a small number of clients in KZN. Send them an email to check if your area fits in with their collection route.