Should I take the tops off of bottles for recycling?

Answer 1

I think PlanetPals had the right answer.

There are many different kinds of plastics - and the tops are different than the rest.
Separating them makes it easier to recycle. (They can do this at the centers, but it ends up costing more. Either they end up doing this manually, or then end up having so alter the chemical content once it is melted ... it's much easier if they are only working with one kind of plastic. I'm not certain, but I think that is one of the reasons why plastics are only reusable a certain number of times.)

Like someone else suggested, a quick rinse will keep the empties from attracting bugs.


Glass - on the other hand - can be recycled endlessly. Partly because if you do leave the plastic top on - the melt point is so different, they just burn it off the molten glass. So, it matters less, but is still nice to do - they have to use less energy to purify the molten glass.

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

According to this recycling website
http://www.ecocycle.org/faq/containers.cfm

"Please remove caps and lids from all plastic containers before recycling. It's okay to leave on the label and the plastic ring around the neck--these are removed during the recycling process."

Plastic caps have a different melting point than other recyclable plastics and will contaminate the load. Throw away or find a creative way to reuse plastic caps—they make great paint or glue holders for small projects."

No, you do not need to remove the plastic ring that is left around the neck of a plastic bottle when I remove the cap. The recycling center is allowed a minimal amount of “contamination” in our materials to account for things like the plastic ring and the label on the product"

OF COURSE WHEN YOU RECYCLE AS BOTTLE IN ONE OF THOSE RECYCLE MACHINES--IT DOES CHEW THE CAP...THERE MUST BE AN AUTOMATIC ELIMINATION PROCESS BUILT IN?

Answer 3

I was told that the tops should be removed from bottles, as they are put into water and that they have to sink, if the tops are on they don't sink and don't get recycled.

Answer 4

.Regarding tops of tin cans. I was told by Exeter City Council recycling dept to place the top in it's clean can and squash can to keep top in place. They also told me that Sainsbury will give you a free post envelope, into which you can put your used battiers and send them of for recycling. If in any doubt about recycling I suggest you ring your local council who will tell you what to do.

Answer 5

Yes. Recycling rules in our neighborhood says: the bottles should be clean with no lids. I throw away the lids from cans too.

Answer 6

It has to be done, do if you don't, then the people working at the recycling center will. By you doing that, as well as taking the paper off of food cans and lids off of jars, you are making their job a little easier and possibly saving your city/county a little bit of tax money.

Answer 7

Yes, at the local bottle depot when I drop mine off I always see them having to take the tops off all the bottles, and they've told me they always appreciate it because I have mine done... and rinsed! I've just always thought it was a nice thing to do... if I had their job what could someone do for me to make my daily tasks easier. It also makes them be able to work faster, get to the next person in line faster, and I think that makes everyone happy :)

Answer 8

No, they're fine with them.

Actually you should put them on because they're just as recyclable as the rest of the bottle, and when you add up all those caps it is a lot of metal/plastic!

Answer 9

I do, but nobody told me to. It just seems reasonable since they are obviously a different kind of plastic and do not have a recycling symbol on them.

Answer 10

No, go ahead & recycle them full turnaround time is greatly reduced