As sales of disposable coffee pods have grown over the years, so have concerns about their accumulation in landfills. So much so, in fact, that sales of Keurig's popular coffee machines and pods began to decline in 2016.

However, some recycling programs have begun accepting the capsules under certain conditions, and companies have been working on developing compostable version.

For instance, in late 2015, the City of Vancouver's curbside recycling program began accepting Keurig K-Cups. However, to prepare them for recycling, their aluminum lids need to be removed and the coffee must be removed (and placed in green bins). Alternately, the pods can also be taken to Recycle BC depots.

Toronto's Club Coffee released a 100-percent compostable coffee capsule in 2015, and now a Vancouver company has launched one of their own.

Since 2013, Vancouver-based OneCoffee has advanced toward its goal of creating a 100-percent compostable single-serve coffee pod, increasing from 90-percent to 99-percent biodegradable.

On January 15, the company launched its 100-percent compostable single-serve coffee pod, certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute. OneCoffee's coffee pods, which are also organic and fair trade, sell for $9.99 and are available in Vancouver at stores such as Choices Market, Whole Foods, Nester's Market, Marketplace IGA, Safeway, Extra Foods, and more.

However, there's some ways to go to ensure the pods don't wind up in landfills.

The City of Vancouver's green bin program currently does not accept products made with polylactic-acid (PLA), including containers, and disposable plates and cutlery. OneCoffee's Keurig-compatible pods use a plant-based, PLA resin and require a commercial composter.

OneCoffee brand manager Shelaine Chu says that of the two commercial composters that take the City of Vancouver's compost, West Coast Instant Lawns (4295 72 Street) in Delta is able to process the pods.

OneCoffee is advocating for all level of government to accept compostable pods in their composting strategies. Accoding to Chu, the company has contacted the City of Vancouver and the City of Richmond and are awaiting responses; the City of Burnaby's Sustainable City Advisory Committee has included their pods and composting in their agenda for their February 6 meeting; and they have met with MLAs Raj Chouhan and Jas Johal.