Alexei Volkov
Plastic bottle caps are a major contributor to pollution, with a 2016 clean-up effort on Midway Atoll, a tiny island in the Pacific, finding almost 5,000 bottle caps. These caps can take hundreds of years to decompose and pose a danger to marine life. While plastic bottles are widely recycled, caps are often made from a different type of plastic resin, which has a lower recycling commodity market value, and so they are not as commonly accepted. However, some recycling programs are now adopting the 'Caps On' standard, and there are specialist services that can recycle them.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic caps are made of | Polypropylene (#5 plastic) or high-density polyethylene (#2 plastic) |
| Plastic bottles and jugs are usually made of | #1 or #2 plastic |
| What to do with plastic bottle caps | Ask your local recycling program whether caps are accepted before trying to recycle them with the bottle |
| Curbside recycling programs | Most are adopting the "Caps On" standard, but your local program may vary |
| Why caps are not as commonly accepted as plastic bottles | Some programs want to ensure no liquid remains in the bottle, and the only way to do this is to remove the cap |
| What to do if your local program doesn't accept caps | Try to contain them in a plastic bag before putting them in your garbage bin to prevent them from becoming marine debris |
| How to recycle caps responsibly | Use a specialty recycler like Ridwell, which partners with local recyclers to keep caps out of landfills |
| How to recycle caps into new products | Companies like Merlin Plastics shred, wash, and pelletize used plastics into a post-consumer resin (PCR) used to make new products |
| How to recycle caps with bottles | Leave caps on PET bottles to ensure all of the beverage bottles are recycled |
| How to recycle caps separately | Use a Zero Waste Box by TerraCycle to recycle old bottle caps |
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What You'll Learn
Check local recycling programs
When it comes to recycling plastic caps, it's important to "check local recycling programs" to ensure you're following the correct guidelines for your area. Each local recycling program has its own preferences and rules, so it's essential to be informed about the specific guidelines in your community. Here are some detailed instructions to help you navigate plastic cap recycling in your local area:
First, identify your local recycling program. Contact your local government or visit their website to find out which organization handles recycling in your area. This could be a city or township program, or it might be managed by a private company contracted by the local government. Understanding the recycling infrastructure in your community is the first step toward responsible plastic cap disposal.
Next, familiarize yourself with the accepted materials and guidelines. Different regions have varying capabilities and policies regarding plastic cap recycling. Some programs may accept plastic caps, while others may specify that caps be separated from bottles or containers. It's crucial to know the specific requirements to ensure your efforts are aligned with the local program's standards.
Now, let's discuss preparation and drop-off or collection procedures. Once you understand what your local program accepts, prepare your plastic caps accordingly. This may involve separating them by material type, colour, or size, or even removing them from bottles altogether. Some programs may have specific drop-off locations or collection procedures for plastic caps, so be sure to follow their instructions to ensure your efforts contribute effectively to the recycling process.
Additionally, consider the scope of your local program's services. While some programs may focus solely on plastic bottles, excluding caps, others might have specific initiatives targeting plastic caps. For example, the "Bottle Caps to Benches" program collects plastic bottle caps and recycles them into benches. Such initiatives provide an excellent opportunity to give new life to your plastic caps while supporting local environmental efforts.
Lastly, stay informed about changes and updates. Recycling guidelines can evolve as technologies and policies advance. Stay connected with your local recycling program by subscribing to their newsletters, following their social media accounts, or periodically checking their website. This way, you can quickly adapt to any changes in accepted materials, preparation methods, or drop-off locations, ensuring your recycling habits remain responsible and effective.
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Caps on or off?
The answer to the question of whether to leave caps on or off when recycling plastic bottles depends on your local recycling program's preferences. It is recommended that you ask your local recycling program whether they accept caps before attempting to recycle them along with the bottle. Some programs will ask you to leave the caps on, some will accept caps but want them separated, and others will ask you to throw them away.
The reason for this discrepancy is that caps are typically made of a different plastic resin than the bottles or jugs they secure. Most caps are made of polypropylene (#5 plastic), while some, like sports drink bottles, are made of high-density polyethylene (#2 plastic). Plastic bottles and jugs, on the other hand, are usually #1 or #2 plastic.
While most curbside recycling programs are adopting the "Caps On" standard, it is important to verify the acceptance and preparation rules of your local program before recycling your caps. Some programs want to ensure that no liquid remains in the bottle, which can only be achieved by removing the caps. There are also safety concerns when a plastic bottle is crushed with the cap on, as the cap can go flying.
To recycle plastic caps responsibly, you can separate them from the bottles and ensure they are entirely plastic, free of other materials like paper, plastic or metal labels, seals, or aluminum wires. You can then look for specialty recyclers who have developed programs to process bottle caps, such as Ridwell, which picks up hard-to-recycle plastics and works with local partners to keep them out of landfills.
Leaving caps on PET bottles is not just a matter of convenience but also a strategic move towards a more sustainable and accessible recycling future. By capping your bottles, you can help ensure that all parts of your beverage container are recycled and prevent small pieces of plastic from ending up in the waste stream or as marine debris, posing a danger to marine life.
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$36.47
Disposing of caps responsibly
Plastic bottle caps are made of polypropylene (#5 plastic), with some, like sports drink bottles, made of high-density polyethylene (#2 plastic). This plastic resin is different from the plastic of the bottle or jug they secure, which is usually #1 or #2 plastic. Because of this difference, caps are not as commonly accepted as plastic bottles by recycling programs. Some programs want to ensure that no liquid remains in the bottle, and removing the cap is the only way to do this. There are also safety concerns when a plastic bottle is crushed with the cap on.
Before attempting to recycle plastic caps, check with your local recycling program to see if they accept caps and, if so, how they would like you to prepare them. Some programs will ask you to leave them on, some accept caps but want them separated, and some will ask you to throw them away. If your local program does not accept caps, you should try to contain them in a plastic bag before putting them in your garbage bin to prevent them from becoming marine debris. If you are at the beach and there are no recycling or trash bins around, take the bottles home with you instead of leaving them as litter.
If you find yourself with a collection of random loose plastic caps, there are specialty recyclers that have developed programs to process them. For example, Ridwell picks up hard-to-recycle plastics and works with local partners to keep them out of landfills. Another option is to use a Zero Waste Box by TerraCycle to recycle old bottle caps. They sort materials based on characteristics and composition, clean them, and send them to third-party partners to process the materials into usable forms.
While it may be tempting to leave the cap off your plastic bottle before recycling, it is actually better to leave the cap on. This is a strategic move toward a more sustainable and accessible recycling future. By capping your bottles, you can help keep small colorful pieces of plastic out of our waste streams.
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Recycling into new products
Plastic caps are usually made of polypropylene, or PP, also known as #5 recyclable plastic. They can be recycled into new products, but the process is not as simple as recycling other plastics. This is because they are made of a different plastic resin than the bottles or jugs they secure. Most caps are made of #5 plastic, while the bottles are typically #1 or #2 plastic.
Recycling plastic caps into new products begins with separating the bottles and caps into their individual resins. The material recovery facility (MRF) will use a pressurized system to expel caps and flatten bottles. The plastics are then soaked in water, where the bottle will sink and the cap will float. The #2 or #5 plastic caps are then shredded into flakes, which are washed, rinsed, and dried. These flakes are melted into pellets, which can then be transported to a manufacturer to make new products.
The new products that can be made from recycled plastic caps include new plastic caps, as well as other materials such as casing for car batteries, storage containers, or reusable plastic bags. Recycled polypropylene is also used to make non-food packaging, as well as larger products such as car batteries and laundry baskets, where recycled content can last for years instead of in a bottle cap designed for single use.
Some companies, such as TerraCycle, offer specific programs for recycling plastic caps. They sort materials based on their characteristics and composition, clean them, and then send them to third-party partners to process the materials into usable forms. The recycled waste is then sold to manufacturing companies to produce the end product and complete the recycling journey.
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Safety concerns
Secondly, plastic caps, due to their small size, can easily get lost during the recycling process. This is especially true for metal caps, which are typically smaller than plastic ones. To prevent this, it is recommended to put metal caps in a steel food can and recycle the entire can once it is full. This reduces the risk of small caps becoming lost or ending up as litter.
Another safety concern relates to the different types of plastic used for caps and bottles. Most plastic caps are made from polypropylene (#5 plastic), while bottles are often made from #1 or #2 plastic. This difference in plastic resin can complicate the recycling process, as the caps and bottles need to be separated and recycled differently. Mixing different types of plastic during recycling can compromise the quality and safety of the recycled material.
Furthermore, plastic caps pose a danger to marine life if they are not properly recycled. Plastic caps do not biodegrade and can take hundreds of years to decompose in landfills. If they end up in the ocean, they can travel long distances and be ingested by marine animals, causing harm to their health and the environment. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that plastic caps are recycled or disposed of responsibly to minimize their impact on marine ecosystems.
Lastly, some plastic caps may contain a seal inside that can be challenging to separate. This seal can interfere with the recycling process and create additional safety concerns. It is important to check with local recycling guidelines to understand how to handle plastic caps with internal seals. By following these guidelines, individuals can help improve the safety and effectiveness of plastic cap recycling.
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Frequently asked questions
You can recycle plastic caps with a Zero Waste Box™ by TerraCycle. Ridwell also picks up hard-to-recycle plastics and works with local partners to keep them out of landfills.
It depends on your local program. Some programs now adopt the 'Caps On' standard, but others want to ensure that no liquid remains in the bottle, so require the cap to be removed. Check with your local provider to see what applies in your area.
Plastics are soaked in water, shredded into flakes, washed, rinsed, dried, and then melted into pellets. These pellets are then transported to a manufacturer to make new plastic products.
Plastic caps don't biodegrade, so they will take hundreds of years to decompose in a landfill. If they end up in the ocean, they pose a danger to marine life.
