Bottle Cap Recycling Guide

Metal Bottle Cap Recycling

Wondering whether bottle caps can be recycled? The ReCollective accepts crimped metal bottle caps from glass beverage bottles during designated ReCo Pick collection months.

Crimped metal beverage bottle caps accepted by The ReCollective

Can You Recycle Metal Bottle Caps?

Yes, through this ReCo Pick collection we accept the wavy-edged, crimped metal caps commonly found on glass soda, beer, and other beverage bottles.

Collect accepted caps in your own grocery-sized bag or smaller. Do not put metal bottle caps in your ReCo Pick bag.

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What to include

What Metal Bottle Caps Can Be Recycled?

This collection is specifically for crimped metal beverage bottle caps.

Accepted

  • Crimped metal beverage bottle caps
  • Caps from glass soda bottles
  • Caps from glass beer bottles
  • Similar wavy-edged caps from glass beverage bottles

Please Leave Out

  • Screw-top metal jar lids
  • Flat metal lids from salsa, pasta sauce, pickle, and similar jars
  • Other lids that are not crimped metal beverage bottle caps
  • Plastic bottle caps
Metal jar lids: Many municipal recycling programs may accept metal jar lids. Check your local municipality’s current recycling guidance for those items.
How to set it out

Use Your Own Grocery-Sized Bag

Place approved metal bottle caps in your own grocery-sized bag or smaller. Keep that bag separate from the ReCo Pick bag and set it out only during the designated bottle-cap collection period. Do not place bottle caps in your ReCo Pick bag.

Before your pickup

How to Prepare Bottle Caps for Pickup

Collect Eligible Caps

Set aside crimped metal caps from glass beverage bottles.

Use Your Own Bag

Place the caps in a grocery-sized bag or smaller.

Keep It Separate

Keep the bottle-cap bag separate from the ReCo Pick bag.

Set Out at the Right Time

Set the caps out only during the designated bottle-cap collection period.

Materials being handled at The ReCollective warehouse in Durham
After collection

What Happens to the Bottle Caps?

Collected metal bottle caps are brought to The ReCollective’s Durham warehouse, where they are packaged for creative reuse by local artists.

1

Collect: Bottle caps return to The ReCollective’s Durham warehouse.

2

Package: The caps are gathered and prepared for their next use.

3

Reuse: The material is repurposed for local artists and creative projects.

Creative reuse: This collection gives crimped metal bottle caps another use rather than treating the page as a general collection for all types of lids or caps.
Local recycling rules

Can Bottle Caps Go in Curbside Recycling?

Local municipal recycling rules vary. The ReCollective collection is specifically for crimped metal beverage bottle caps from glass bottles.

Screw-top and flat metal jar lids are not part of this ReCo Pick collection. Many municipal programs may accept metal jar lids, so check your local municipality’s current instructions.

Common questions

Bottle Cap Recycling FAQs

Can you recycle bottle caps?
It depends on the type of cap and the recycling program. The ReCollective accepts crimped metal caps from glass beverage bottles during designated ReCo Pick collection periods.
Are metal bottle caps recyclable?
Metal bottle caps may be accepted or handled differently depending on the program. The ReCollective specifically collects crimped metal beverage bottle caps for creative reuse.
What kinds of bottle caps does The ReCollective accept?
We accept wavy-edged, crimped metal caps from glass soda, beer, and other beverage bottles. Plastic bottle caps are not part of this collection.
Do bottle caps go in the ReCo Pick bag?
No. Place accepted bottle caps in your own grocery-sized bag or smaller and keep that bag separate from the ReCo Pick bag.
What should I do with metal jar lids?
Screw-top or flat metal jar lids are not included in this collection. Many municipal recycling programs may accept them, so check your local recycling guidance.
What happens to the bottle caps after pickup?
The caps are brought to The ReCollective’s Durham warehouse and packaged to be repurposed for local artists.

ReCo Pick Reminders

Designated collection period Set out metal bottle caps only during the designated bottle-cap ReCo Pick collection period.
Use your own bag Collect accepted caps in a grocery-sized bag or smaller.
Keep them out of the ReCo Pick bag The bottle-cap bag should stay separate from the ReCo Pick bag.
Mailback is available Metal bottle caps are also accepted through The ReCollective’s Almost Anything Bag Mailback program.
Recycle more with us

Ready to Recycle More Hard-to-Recycle Materials?

Explore the materials The ReCollective collects and learn how home pickup works.

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Related information

Other Recycling & Reuse Guides

Wine cork recycling and reuse guide Reuse guide Wine Corks View guide Scrap metal recycling guide Recycling guide Scrap Metal View guide Yard sign recycling and reuse guide Reuse guide Yard Signs View guide Jewelry recycling and reuse guide Reuse guide Jewelry View guide
Service information

Local Pickup & Mailback

City page Durham View local information City page Raleigh View local information City page Cary View local information City page Chapel Hill & Carrboro View local information Mailback Almost Anything Bag Metal bottle caps accepted