How to Recycle Plastic Bottle Tops

Plastic bottle tops, such as those found on soda, ketchup and peanut butter containers, are often not accepted by traditional recycling programs because they are made from a different category of plastics than the bottles they seal. Bottle caps are typically made from polypropylene--otherwise known as plastic number 5. While municipal garbage collectors often recommend that individuals throw away their plastic bottle caps, some companies and grocery stores have started accepting plastic bottle caps for recycling in an effort to reduce the amount of waste that enters our country's landfills.

Instructions

• 1

  Determine whether your city or town accepts plastic bottle tops as part of your curbside recycling program by calling your local Department of Public Works or going online to the department's website.

• 2

  Visit Earth911.com to find recycling centers in your area that accept plastic bottle tops. This website provides a nationwide database of recycling centers, searchable by material and location. Some nationwide retailers and organizations that collect plastic bottle tops include Aveda, Whole Foods Market and The ReCap Company.

• 3

  Place a small bin by your home's recycling center dedicated for collecting plastic bottle tops. Make sure to rinse the bottle caps thoroughly prior to placing them in the bin.

• 4

  Take the bin to a nearby retail store that accepts lids for recycling when it is full. If you are participating in a mail-in program, such as that operated by The ReCap Company, wait until you have enough caps to fill a large envelope or a small box. This will offset the carbon emissions required to transport the bottle caps to another part of the country.