Nespresso donates 100,000 pounds of compost through Grounds to Grow LA project

Nespresso has donated 100,000 pounds of finished compost to Los Angeles-based City Plants LA as part of the next phase of its Grounds to Grow LA project.

Nespresso processes collected coffee grounds in collaboration with its long-time commercial recycling and composting partner, AgChoice, Andover, New Jersey. The grounds are collected from Nespresso boutiques or through the company’s mail-back program.

According to Nespresso, compost containing Nespresso coffee grounds will contribute to the restoration of soil damaged by California’s January wildfires.

“Grounds to Grow LA illustrates the power of collaboration between our employees, customers and partners to address urgent environmental challenges,” says Amy Uong, senior recycling manager at Nespresso USA. “Thank you to all the Nespresso coffee drinkers who contributed to this initiative and continue to recycle their capsules every day. We’re proud to play a small role in supporting the Los Angeles community and hope to continue to grow our recycling participation in the state moving forward.”

City Plants LA manages public-private partnerships that aim to create a greener, more equitable and climate-resilient city by planting trees. Through the Grounds to Grow project, City Plants will redistribute 100,000 pounds of compost-rich soil to residents living in wildfire-impacted communities. The compost can be used to remediate contaminated soil ahead of replanting or to save existing trees that survived the fire. City Plants says it expects to distribute more than 8,500 trees to residents in Los Angeles and additional trees to residents impacted outside of the city.

“Compost isn’t just soil—it’s a foundation for growth,” City Plants Executive Director Carlos Campero says. “This partnership came at the apt time as our team had been assessing soil health, considering how to best revitalize burn areas in Eaton Canyon and Palisades communities and provide compost to till into existing tree wells as we water. This milestone of 100,000 pounds of recycled coffee ground compost is a testament to what our greater California community can achieve when we come together with shared purpose.”