When recycling plastic water bottles are we supposed to separate the cap from the bottle?

Question

When recycling plastic water bottles are we supposed to separate the cap from the bottle?

Answer 1

Plastic bottle caps are generally made from a recyclable plastic. The problem with recycling plastic bottle caps is that most recycling centers bale all their plastics for shipment. The bottle caps are so small that they tend to get hung up in the baler, which can cause a machine stoppage, or they fall out of the bales after compaction. Many recycling centers do not accept plastic bottle caps for these reasons. Some recycling centers will accept larger plastic caps (detergent bottles), but not smaller plastic caps (water bottles).

Answer 2

You can recycle them by using them for something else. We save the plastic caps from the gallon milk jugs and make checker games. We will store the game in a recycled crystal light container. And the checker board is painted on a recycled piece of material or felt. You can find an organization that works with a children's ministry and send the games to children is other countries. Totally recycled and not just a craft project that is going to end up in the land fill. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

No matter what, it's always best to check with the company that handles your recyclables. I'm quite sure that a lot of the newer machines can handle the caps and the rings and whatnot (and sort them if needed) but the older machinery can't and therefore, they trash what they cannot easily recycle. If you have curbside pick up, your city/township website should have the information spelled out for you. I would also advise you to check it often, as in my area it seems like everybody is upgrading their equipment and accepting more and more.



Thanks for doing your part!

Answer 4

not true, the machines they use to crush the bottles work too hard and theres alot of poping when theres still a cap on the bottle, they will let you recycle the top with the bottle just dont have the cap attached to it, it could be in the bag with it but not attached, too much work for the machines and the people get mad...

Answer 5

The reason they want to have remove the caps is because the bottles are compressed. With the cap on that is harder to do.

I use an icepick, poke some holes and keep the caps on.

Chris

Answer 6

Yes, caps must be removed. ALSO my recycling center wont take bottle if there any water left. I mean like a lil sip in the bottom. So you might want to make sure there completely empty.



:) Thanks for recycling!!

Answer 7

yes they have to separated in order to be recycled.

the caps are made of another substance which it not recyclable...

cheers

mystic

Answer 8

We allways seperate the lids from the bottle.

Answer 9

i know it sounds stupid but the recycle truck won't take it if ring is attached.

Answer 10

I'd say that the only way to find out for sure what you should do is ask your own recycling centre / council / curbside collection team because it really does depend where they're going and what they're used for. The answer given by one council could easily differ from that given by another, because they have signed up with different companies for the final disposal.



My local centre says they want the caps off so that the bottles can be crushed with lower use of energy - but obviously I want to crush the bottles before I take them to the recycling centre (to save storage space and allow me to take more on one trip) so I usually crush them then put the caps back on (otherwise they just pop back out to their original size!).



So I'm afraid they get them with caps on from me.



It is true that the caps use a different plastic (most drink bottles are polyethylene terepthalate, caps are often polypropylene or even harder plastics) and in some circumstances they'd need to be separated - but I suspect that most recycled plastic goes into applications where the mix doesn't matter much. After all they probably also get different bottles (washing up liquid or shampoo is probably in polyethylene, some things have to be in multi-layered plastics to provide different properties such as an oxygen barrier, acid resistance etc.) as well.

Answer 11

i think you are supposed to seperate the lids AND the labels, that's what i have been told. i also think you are supposed to wash them as well. i hope this helps