How can I recycle plastic bottle caps in the United States?

Question

The recycling centers in my area cannot accept plastic bottle caps. I'd like to recycle them, but don't know where I can deliver/send them. Are there any charities or companies that collect them?

Answer 1

In the United States your not allowed to recycle bottle caps. But you can recycle important things like plastic, soda cans, and paper!

Answer 2

Turn them into bottle-cap-magnets is a great kid gift idea.  

A friend makes craft finger pin cushions with small bottle caps and a wrist pin cushion with the larger bottle caps.  Very cool craft idea for the dress makers.

Sorry, don't know any organization willing to take them in bulk.

Answer 3

I'm only aware of bottle cap recycling in Canada- however there are some "crafty" ways to recycle bottle caps.  If you have any head start, preshools or elementary schools in the area you could ask them if they would like a donation of bottle caps to use for craft supplies.  Programs funded by govt. grants are usually looking for In kind donations!  Here is a site that uses common items for crafts.

http://www.allfreecrafts.com/phprint.php

Answer 4

I don't have an answer for where to recycle, but I have to comment on some previous answers as incorrect.  

Whether you can recycle something is determined by your own recycler, not a national law.

Our curbside recycling accepts plastic tubs, but they don't like the lids because they jam their sorting equipment - however, a local recycler will take any 1-7 plastic.

Answer 5

To find out how you can recycle the bottle caps you must first know why you can't.  Plastic bottle caps contain a rubber seal in them that creates a liquid tight seal between the cap and the opening of the bottle.  As this seal is not easily removed the cap is considered non recyclable.  If you want to recycle the caps along with the bottle you must first remove that seal.  If you are truely  concerned with this issue there are ways that you can  reuse the caps with out sending them to a recycling center. One suggestion is to use the caps for model paints another is a lei made from various caps. If you are creative you can find many uses for them... personaly the cap is just a small part of the bigger picture and though they will last for ages buried in landfills it is better to discard a cap than the whole bottle. Keep up the Recycling effort.

Answer 6

you are only allowed to recycle plastic bottles with a 'neck'

not bottle caps.

a neck means the opening is smaller than the base. which means you may not recycle a tub type plastic in the U.S.