Dryden pet shelter recycles coffee pods to earn cash

A Dryden pet shelter has come up with a unique fundraiser that's also keeping material out of the landfill.

The Second Chance Pet Network collects used Tassimo coffee pods for recycling. The charity earns a penny for every coffee pod, which are handed over to TerraCycle.

TerraCycle recycles the used pods into eco-friendly products like plastic garbage cans, watering cans, benches, cutting boards, hard shells for coolers, play grounds and plastic lumber.

A volunteer with Second Chance Pet Network says the used coffee filters are coming in from as far away as Kenora and Sioux Lookout.

"So the word just kind of spread,” Bev Whittaker said.

“Other communities sort of went, ‘well here, take ours ... keep them from the landfill.’ And it earns money for Second Chance."

Whittaker noted the money quickly adds up.

The group has earned about $650 from collecting and turning in the coffee pods so far.

"The Tassimos have turned into a pretty big project. We've got Sioux Lookout and Kenora now saving Tassimos for us,” Whittaker said.

"[That $650 is something] we wouldn't have otherwise. It also keeps [the pods] of the landfill, which is a big thing for my husband and me. We do what we can."