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How to Recycle Empty Beer Bottles

It takes approximately one million years for a glass bottle to break down in a landfill. Oberlin College found that Americans throw away enough glass bottles and jars in two weeks time to fill the 1,350 foot tower of the former World Trade Center. Recycling turns what would be waste into valuable resources. It reduces the need for landfills, helps prevent pollution caused by manufacturing and can save energy. Recycling your empty beer bottles depends on the recycling programs available in your area.

Things You'll Need

  • Recycling bins
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Instructions

  1. Curbside Pick-up Programs

    • 1

      Order a recycling bin by contacting your local Utilities Authority or your local Public Works department. Request pick-up curb service. If your community offers this service you will be able to leave your recyclables at the curb along with your trash and they will be picked up.

    • 2

      Check with the authorities on sorting policies, as programs vary. Ask if you should separate aluminum cans from glass bottles or if glass bottles need to be sorted by color. When various colors of glass mix together, the cullet (recycled glass that is crushed and refined to make new glass products) may be considered contaminated and therefore have a lower economic value than a cullet of one single color.

    • 3

      If you live in an apartment building, ask your building owner or superintendent about any designated recycling places in your building. Some counties have multi-unit dwelling recycling programs in place.

    • 4

      Rinse and clean off any labels from your empty beer bottles. Sort, if necessary, beer bottles by color: clear, amber, green. Leave your sorted, recyclable materials on your curb at the scheduled trash pick-up time in the supplied recycling bins.

    Drop--off Centers

    • 5

      Find a local recycling drop-off center. Visit the Earth911 website to search for recycling centers near you. Conduct a search for glass near your address or zip code.

    • 6

      Call 1-800-CLEANUP if you are without internet access and need to locate a recycling center. It is a free service provided by Earth911 that gives you access to their database over the phone.

    • 7

      Sort your beer bottles as necessary. Some recycling facilities have sorting capabilities while others do not. It may be necessary for you to pre-sort your beer bottles before taking them to the center.

    Bottle Returns

    • 8

      Check with your local government as to whether your state has Bottle Bill legislation in effect. As of 2010, 11 states have Bottle Bills: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Oregon and Vermont.

    • 9

      Empty and clean your beer bottles. Separate paper from glass. You are required to return empty bottles in clean and intact condition. Bottles must be dry and free of foreign materials and be able to stand on their own.

    • 10

      If you live in a state with a Bottle Bill, return your empty beer bottles to a retail store or redemption center to receive your deposit. A Bottle Bill, or container deposit law, is a law requiring a minimum refundable deposit on beer and other beverage containers to promote recycling.

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