Omar Khalid
Plastic six-pack rings, commonly used for beer cans, have been criticised for their harmful impact on wildlife and the environment. Despite some marketing claims, these plastic rings are not always accepted by curbside recycling programmes and can cause damage to recycling equipment. However, they can be recycled in certain programmes and facilities that accept low-density polyethylene resin, and some supermarkets offer plastic film recycling for these items. To avoid harm to wildlife, it is recommended to cut the rings before disposal.
Are plastic beer rings recyclable?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Recyclable in curbside bins | No |
| Recyclable in plastic bag store drop-off containers | Yes |
| Recyclable in plastic film recycling programs | Yes |
| Recyclable in grocery stores | Yes |
| Recyclable in municipalities with transfer stations that offer plastic film recycling | Yes |
| Recyclable in large quantities at a plastics recycling processor | Yes |
| Recyclable in some breweries | Yes |
| Recyclable in cardboard boxes | Yes |
| Recyclable in the mail | Yes |
| Harmful to wildlife | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic beer rings are recyclable at some supermarkets
Plastic beer rings are a convenient way to carry multiple cans or bottles, but they have received criticism over the years for being disposed of carelessly, polluting public spaces and waterways, and endangering wildlife. While some claim that plastic beer rings are 100% recyclable, this is not always the case for single-stream recycling programs favored by many cities. In fact, they often get rejected by recycling facilities or escape detection by sorting machinery, ultimately ending up in landfills.
However, it's important to note that plastic beer rings can be recycled at certain locations. Some supermarkets, for instance, offer plastic film recycling and accept plastic bags, which include the flimsy film six-pack rings made from photodegradable LDPE #4 plastic. These can be recycled with other plastic films, but it's important to check with your local supermarket or municipality transfer station to confirm.
Additionally, there are alternative ways to dispose of plastic beer rings responsibly. Some local breweries may direct you to a website or recycling center specifically for plastic beer rings. For example, PakTech in Oregon will take back and recycle plastic can toppers, turning them into new PakTechs. There are also initiatives like the Chicagoland Can Carrier Reuse and Recycling Co-op, which collects, redistributes, and sends carriers to facilities capable of recycling them.
When disposing of plastic beer rings, it is crucial to avoid mixing them with other recyclables as they can cause issues with recycling equipment. If you are unable to recycle them through a supermarket or local initiative, consider cutting the rings open before throwing them away to prevent animals from getting caught in them. While plastic beer rings can be recycled in certain settings, it is still important to prioritize eco-friendly alternatives, such as consuming beer on draught or in refillable containers to reduce single-use waste.
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They are not recyclable in single-stream recycling programs
Plastic beer rings are not recyclable in single-stream recycling programs. This is because they tend to tangle sorting machines, causing shutdowns. They are also considered contaminants in the recycling process, as they can gum up the works at recycling facilities, slow down processing, cause problems with equipment, and increase costs. As a result, they often end up in landfills, despite consumers' and breweries' best intentions to recycle them.
In some places, like Massachusetts and Chicago, plastic beer rings are not accepted in curbside recycling programs. This is due to the challenges they pose to recycling equipment and the potential for them to become litter if not properly disposed of. However, there are alternative ways to recycle or reuse plastic beer rings.
For example, some supermarkets and municipality transfer stations accept plastic film recycling, which includes plastic beer rings. Additionally, some manufacturers offer mail-back programs where consumers can send their plastic beer rings for recycling. There are also initiatives, such as the Chicagoland Can Carrier Reuse and Recycling Co-op, that aim to collect, redistribute, and recycle plastic beer rings.
It is important to note that plastic beer rings, even photodegradable ones, can be harmful to wildlife if they end up in the environment. They can break down into microplastics that are often consumed by marine life and birds. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure proper disposal or recycling of these rings to minimize their impact on the environment and wildlife.
To avoid the issue of recycling altogether, some consumers opt for draught beer in reusable glassware or refillable growlers to reduce single-use waste associated with plastic beer rings.
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They are harmful to wildlife if leaked into the environment
Plastic beer rings, also known as six-pack rings, pose a significant threat to wildlife when they escape into the environment. Due to their circular shape and durable plastic composition, they can easily entangle birds, fish, turtles, and other animals, leading to injury or death. The rings can restrict movement, causing strangulation and amputation as animals grow or become more entangled. The ingestion of plastic beer rings or the consumption of prey that have ingested them can also introduce toxic chemicals into the food chain, leading to
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They can be recycled with other plastic film, like plastic bags
Plastic six-pack rings are a menace to wildlife, especially when they leak into the environment. They are often disposed of carelessly, polluting public spaces and waterways and endangering wildlife. Despite the manufacturer's marketing claims, rigid plastic can carriers and plastic film six-pack rings are not curbside recyclable in Massachusetts and most other states. However, plastic six-pack rings can be recycled with other plastic films, like plastic bags, which some supermarkets accept. These six-pack ring holders are non-rigid plastic and are essentially thick #4 plastic bags.
Some sources suggest that these plastic rings should not be put in recycling bins as they are considered contaminants. They can cause problems at the recycling facility, slowing processing and causing issues with equipment. However, they can be recycled at a supermarket or municipality transfer station that offers plastic film recycling or mailed back to the manufacturer through a free program.
Some local breweries, such as those in Oregon, also have recycling programs for these plastic rings. Additionally, there are initiatives like the Chicagoland Can Carrier Reuse and Recycling Co-op, which collects, redistributes, and recycles plastic can carriers, aiming to keep them out of landfills and reduce the number of microplastics entering the soil and water.
It is important to note that biodegradable or compostable six-pack rings are also available, made from wheat and barley. These provide an eco-friendly alternative to traditional plastic rings, which can have detrimental effects on the environment and wildlife if not properly recycled or disposed of.
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Some breweries are creating their own recycling programs
Plastic beer rings are often marketed as "100% recyclable". However, they are not typically recycled through single-stream recycling programs, which are favoured by many cities. As a result, plastic beer rings often end up in landfills, despite the best intentions of consumers and breweries.
Some breweries are taking it upon themselves to create their own recycling programs to tackle this issue. For example, in Chicago, a newly launched Chicagoland Can Carrier Reuse and Recycling Co-op is creating a system in which plastic beer rings can be collected, redistributed for reuse, or sent to a facility for recycling. Dozens of breweries and bottle shops have already joined the program, with the goal of keeping the carriers in circulation for as long as possible.
In Massachusetts, Vermont, and Rhode Island, collection programs have been established, with consumers able to drop off their plastic beer rings at participating breweries or bottle shops. Some breweries, such as Temperance and Midwest Coast, offer incentives like free pours for those who return their plastic rings. Chicago's Half Acre, Temperance, Heartland Beverage, and the Addison-based organisation SCARCE serve as hubs for the program, where businesses can bring their excess, damaged, or unusable carriers.
In Metro Boston, four breweries (Aeronaut, Harpoon, Lamplighter, and Trillium) have partnered with GreenLabs Recycling to offer collection services. Breweries can also make arrangements with their packaging providers to take back specified quantities of carriers for recycling. Additionally, flimsy six-pack rings can be recycled through plastic film recycling programs offered by some supermarkets and municipalities or mailed back to the manufacturer through the free RingRecycleMe program.
Some breweries are also choosing to reduce their use of plastic packaging altogether. Tree House and Hill Farmstead, for example, provide customers with corrugated cardboard boxes that hold multiple cans and are accepted in residential recycling programs. These boxes can also be returned or reused, further reducing waste.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic beer rings are recyclable, but they cannot be recycled through single-stream recycling programs. They can be recycled at a supermarket or municipality transfer station that offers plastic film recycling.
Plastic beer rings can be recycled by mailing them back to their manufacturer or by dropping them off at a supermarket or municipality transfer station that offers plastic film recycling.
Yes, there are alternative packaging options for beer, such as cardboard boxes or biodegradable/compostable six-pack rings made from wheat and barley.
Plastic beer rings can be harmful to wildlife if leaked into the environment. They can entangle birds, dolphins, and turtles, and even the photodegradable ones break down into microplastics that can be consumed by marine life and birds.
