- 1Empty completely - even small amounts of liquid can contaminate entire bales
- 2Rinse quickly with water if sticky or sugary residue remains
- 3Remove caps and lids (check local guidelines - many now accept caps on)
- 4Peel off outer labels only if they come off easily
- 5Crush lengthwise to save space (avoid crushing if caps are on)
- 6Keep bottles dry - wet bottles can develop mold in recycling facilities
- Curbside recycling
- Recycling centers
- Reverse vending machines
- Grocery store collection areas
Contamination Prevention: Never put bottles with liquid inside in recycling - it can spoil entire truckloads. Remove caps unless your local program specifically accepts caps-on.
Can be recycled into new bottles (bottle-to-bottle), polyester clothing, carpeting, fleece, and fiberfill. Takes 450+ years to decompose in landfills. Recycling one PET bottle saves enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for 6 hours. Manufacturing recycled PET uses 60% less energy than virgin PET. The US recycles about 1.8 billion pounds of PET bottles annually, preventing significant landfill waste.
- Reusable water bottles
- Glass bottles
- Aluminum cans
- Water filtration systems
- Refillable containers
Accepted
- Water bottles (clear PET)
- Soda bottles
- Sports drink bottles
- Juice bottles (clear PET)
- Salad dressing bottles
- Peanut butter jars (clear PET)
Not Accepted
- Bottles with liquid inside
- Bottles that contained motor oil or chemicals
- Severely damaged or cracked bottles
- Black PET containers (difficult to sort)
- Bottles with significant food residue
Should I remove the label from PET bottles?
Only remove labels if they peel off easily. Most recycling facilities can handle labels during processing, and forcing them off may damage the bottle.
Can I recycle PET bottles with caps on?
This varies by location. Many facilities now accept caps-on because caps and bottles are both recyclable. Check with your local recycling program for their specific requirements.
What happens to PET bottles after recycling?
PET bottles are cleaned, shredded into flakes, melted, and reformed into new products. About 31% become new bottles, while others become clothing, carpets, or fiberfill.
Why is it important to keep PET bottles dry?
Wet bottles can develop mold during storage and transportation, contaminating other recyclables and making entire loads unsuitable for recycling.
What's the most common contamination mistake with PET bottles?
Leaving liquid inside bottles is the biggest contamination issue. Even a small amount of liquid can ruin entire bales of recyclables during processing, making thousands of bottles non-recyclable.
Can I recycle PET bottles that contained household cleaners?
No, only food and beverage PET bottles should be recycled. Bottles that contained cleaners, chemicals, or motor oil cannot be recycled due to contamination concerns.
What's bottle-to-bottle recycling and why does it matter?
Bottle-to-bottle recycling means old PET bottles become new PET bottles, creating a closed loop. This is the highest-value form of PET recycling, keeping plastic in the food-grade supply chain rather than downcycling into clothing or carpets.