Can You Recycle Bottle Caps?
It depends
Plastic caps: leave on the bottle. Metal caps: trap inside a can
Why
Loose caps are too small for sorting machines and fall through the screens. Attached or contained, they recycle fine.
How to dispose of bottle caps
- Screw plastic caps back onto their empty bottles before recycling
- Collect metal caps inside a steel can, pinch it closed, then recycle the can
- Never toss loose caps in the bin
Greener option
Some craft and school programs collect plastic caps for projects.
♻️ Recycling rules vary by city and hauler — when in doubt, check your local program. You can look up your area on our trash & recycling schedules page.