Wine Cork Recycling Guide

Wine Cork Recycling

Wondering whether wine corks can be recycled? The ReCollective accepts natural and synthetic wine corks during designated ReCo Pick collections and routes them for recycling or creative reuse.

Natural and synthetic wine corks accepted by The ReCollective

Can You Recycle Wine Corks?

Yes. The ReCollective accepts both natural wine corks made from cork oak bark and synthetic wine corks made from plastic or composite materials.

Collected corks are routed for recycling or creative reuse through partners that help give the material another life.

What to include

What Wine Corks Can Be Recycled?

The ReCollective accepts both natural and synthetic wine corks.

Accepted

  • Natural wine corks made from cork oak bark
  • Synthetic wine corks made from plastic or composite materials

Do Not Include

  • Anything that is not a wine cork
Where it goes

Use a Grocery-Size Bag

Place wine corks in your own bag no larger than a standard grocery bag. During designated collection months, keep the filled bag separate from the canvas ReCo Pick bag. Do not place wine corks in the ReCo Pick bag.

The ReCollective warehouse in Durham
After collection

What Happens to the Wine Corks?

Your wine corks are transported to The ReCollective’s Durham warehouse, where they are prepared for recycling or repurposing.

1

Collect: Wine corks return to The ReCollective’s Durham warehouse.

2

Prepare: The corks are gathered and prepared for their next destination.

3

Recycle or reuse: Natural and synthetic corks are routed to recycling or creative-reuse outlets.

Recycling & reuse partners

ReCORK, The Scrap Exchange & Local Artists

The existing wine-cork program works with ReCORK, The Scrap Exchange, and local artists to give collected corks another use.

Common questions

Wine Cork Recycling FAQs

Can you recycle wine corks?
Yes. The ReCollective accepts both natural and synthetic wine corks and routes them for recycling or creative reuse.
Are natural wine corks recyclable?
Yes. Natural corks made from cork oak bark are accepted through The ReCollective’s wine cork collection.
Can synthetic wine corks be recycled?
The ReCollective accepts synthetic wine corks made from plastic or composite materials and routes them for recycling or creative reuse.
What wine corks does The ReCollective accept?
We accept natural wine corks and synthetic wine corks. Items that are not wine corks should not be included.
Do wine corks go in the ReCo Pick bag?
No. Place wine corks in your own bag no larger than a standard grocery bag and keep that bag separate from the canvas ReCo Pick bag.
What happens to wine corks after collection?
Wine corks return to The ReCollective’s Durham warehouse and are prepared for recycling or repurposing through partners including ReCORK, The Scrap Exchange, and local artists.

ReCo Pick Reminders

Standard monthly members Set out wine corks only during the month this ReCo Pick is featured.
Almost Anything Plan members You may set out approved wine corks during any monthly pickup using the same preparation instructions on this page.
Use a grocery-size bag Place wine corks in your own bag no larger than a standard grocery bag. Keep the bag separate from the ReCo Pick bag.
Mailback is also available Wine corks are accepted through the Almost Anything Bag Mailback program.
Related information

Other Material Guides

Metal bottle cap recycling Material guide Metal Bottle Caps Scrap metal recycling Material guide Scrap Metal Yard sign recycling and reuse Material guide Yard Signs Jewelry recycling and reuse Material guide Jewelry CD and DVD recycling and reuse Material guide CDs & DVDs Used kitchenware recycling and reuse Material guide Used Kitchenware
Service information

City Recycling Pages & 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 Recycle wine corks by mail