PLEASE Recycle Your Top if You Can!!
Some Recycling Programs Recycle Plastic Bottle Tops, but Not All Do.
Plastic tops are typically made from plastic #5 while the bottles they accompany are made from #2. These two types of plastic melt at different temperatures during the recycling process and therefore requiring special processing.
Find Out if Your Recycling Program Accepts Caps.
Every area's recycling program is different! It's very important that you check with your recycling program or Earth911’s recycling directory before you begin tossing your old bottle tops into the recycling bin.
- For instance, Sharon, Massachusetts does not accept lids or tops. Click here for its recycling brochure.
Know Whether it's Tops On or Tops Off.
Important! Once you know your area recycles bottle tops, find out whether your recycler want the tops left on or off.
It used to be that consumers were asked to remove the plastic lids from their plastic bottles before recycling, but recycling processing equipment has improved enough over the years to make this request less common.
It used to be that consumers were asked to remove the plastic lids from their plastic bottles before recycling, but recycling processing equipment has improved enough over the years to make this request less common.
- For instance, Montgomery County MD – wants tops off: (“We accept plastic lids and caps. Take the caps and lids off of bottles and containers first before putting them into your recycling bin.”)
- In Frederick County, MD, you may leave the lids on. BUT! You may recycle them only if they have a number in them. Plastics without an identification code imprinted on them are not recyclable. No code, no recycling!
- The Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recycler (APR) asks that caps and closures be kept on plastic bottles and containers at the point of recycling.
If Your Local Recycler Doesn't Accept Bottle Tops,
Find a Location that Does!
Earth911 is the go to source!!
It tells you how and where to recycle just about anything,
including plastic tops!
http://www.earth911.com/recycling-center-search-guides/
It tells you how and where to recycle just about anything,
including plastic tops!
http://www.earth911.com/recycling-center-search-guides/
For example:
MOMs Market
MOM's accepts many common household items to be recycled, including used fluorescent light bulbs, ink cartridges, and plastic bottle tops. Be sure to check MOM's Events Calendar for special recycling drives throughout the year. MOM's Recycle Center
Preserve Gimme 5 Program - Recycling Program for #5 (polypropylene) plastics. This company takes #5 plastics and make them into new toothbrushes. Click here for a description of the program and here to find a location of the nearest drop off point to you.
MOM's accepts many common household items to be recycled, including used fluorescent light bulbs, ink cartridges, and plastic bottle tops. Be sure to check MOM's Events Calendar for special recycling drives throughout the year. MOM's Recycle Center
Preserve Gimme 5 Program - Recycling Program for #5 (polypropylene) plastics. This company takes #5 plastics and make them into new toothbrushes. Click here for a description of the program and here to find a location of the nearest drop off point to you.
Watch this short video to see how plastics are recycled.
Don't Drop the Top © 2014 Sophia Mense