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How to Recycle Bottle Caps & Lids
Check local acceptanceLast reviewed September 27, 2026
Quick answer
Plastic bottle caps can usually be recycled when screwed back onto an empty bottle that your local program accepts. Loose caps and separate lids follow local rules and often fall through sorting equipment, so check before putting them in the bin. Before you go, confirm that a local recycling center accepts the material in its current condition.
- Recycling route
- Check locally
Plastic closures for beverage and household bottles, plus separate lids from jars and tubs. Recyclers handle attached and loose caps differently.
Where to Recycle
- Curbside recycling with an accepted, empty bottle and attached cap
- Local drop-off for loose closures where explicitly offered
- Trash for loose caps or mixed-material pumps that the program excludes
How to Prepare
- 1Empty the bottle and give it a quick rinse if needed
- 2Screw its original cap back on unless your local program says otherwise
- 3Check separate tub lids, metal lids, and loose caps against local instructions
- 4Keep tiny detached caps out of curbside bins if the program excludes them
Special Instructions
Do not assume every lid follows the bottle rule. A large plastic tub lid, a metal jar lid, and a loose bottle cap can have different local instructions. Leave safety seals and pumps out unless the program lists them.
Environmental Impact
Keeping a cap attached can help the small closure travel with its accepted bottle through collection and sorting instead of being lost as residue.
Official guidance and resources
Accepted items and drop-off rules can vary by location. Check the destination before you go.
What’s Accepted
Accepted
- Caps attached to accepted bottles where local rules permit
- Separate lids only when the local program lists them
Not Accepted
- Loose tiny caps when the local program requires attached caps
- Pumps and sprayers treated as simple bottle caps
FAQs
Should I leave the cap on the bottle?
Usually yes for an accepted plastic bottle, but follow your local provider's instructions.
Can I collect loose caps in a plastic bag?
Do not bag them for curbside collection unless your local program specifically requests it. Bags can interfere with sorting.
Related recycling guides
Recycle bottle caps & lids
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