How to Recycle Pill Bottles | The ReCollective
ReCo Pick Member Guide

How to Recycle Pill Bottles

Learn how to recycle empty #5 prescription pill bottles through The ReCollective’s ReCo Pick and mailback programs.

Empty prescription pill bottles prepared for recycling

Check the recycling number first

The ReCollective accepts empty prescription pill bottles that are marked with the #5 recycling symbol. Bottles made from other plastics are not included in this collection.

Before setting bottles out, remove the prescription labels or completely black out all personal information.

What to include

Accepted Pill Bottles

Only include bottles that are empty and clearly marked with the #5 recycling symbol.

Accepted

  • Empty prescription pill bottles
  • Bottles marked with the #5 recycling symbol
  • Bottles with labels removed
  • Bottles with personal information fully blacked out
  • Matching caps from accepted bottles

Please Leave Out

  • Bottles that still contain medication
  • Bottles without a #5 recycling symbol
  • Bottles made from another type of plastic
  • Bottles with readable personal information
  • Loose medication or medical waste
How to set them out

Use Your Own Grocery-Sized Bag

During designated pill bottle collection months, place approved pill bottles in your own grocery-sized bag or smaller. Put that bag inside your black waterproof collection bag on pickup day.

Before your pickup

How to Prepare Pill Bottles

Empty the Bottle

Make sure no medication remains inside. The ReCollective does not accept medication or medical waste.

Protect Your Information

Remove the prescription label or completely black out your name, prescription details, and other personal information.

Check for #5

Look for the #5 recycling symbol before adding the bottle to your grocery-sized collection bag.

Materials being sorted at The ReCollective warehouse in Durham
After collection

What Happens to the Pill Bottles?

Accepted pill bottles return to The ReCollective’s Durham warehouse, where they are aggregated for community partners.

1

Check: The team confirms that bottles are empty and marked with the #5 recycling symbol.

2

Aggregate: Accepted bottles are combined at the warehouse for efficient partner delivery.

3

Route: The prepared material is sent to community partners for its next use.

Collection partners: The ReCollective works with Orange Recycling Services and The Scrap Exchange to help keep accepted pill bottles out of the landfill.
Community partners

Partners Supporting Pill Bottle Collection

Orange Recycling Services logo Community partner Orange Recycling Services Visit partner The Scrap Exchange logo Community partner The Scrap Exchange Visit partner

ReCo Pick Reminders

Standard monthly members Set out pill bottles only during designated collection months, using your own grocery-sized bag or smaller.
Almost Anything Plan members You may set out approved pill bottles during any monthly pickup in your ReCo Pick bag.
Keep Standard ReCo Pick Items Contained During designated collection months, place the grocery-sized bag inside your black waterproof collection bag.
Return all canvas bags Return all of your canvas bags each time you set out recycling so the team can provide a complete replacement kit.
Related information

Other Household Recycling Guides

Battery recycling guide Recycling guide Batteries View guide Light bulb recycling guide Recycling guide Light Bulbs View guide Electronics recycling guide Recycling guide Electronics View guide CD and DVD recycling and reuse guide Reuse guide CDs & DVDs 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 View mailback options