Why can't you recycle plastic lids?

Question

I already know that you can't, but I've never heard a good answer why. In fact, I've never heard any answer at all. Occasionally there's a story on the news saying you can't, but all they ever show is some official guy who just says, "nope, you can't recycle lids," but never actually gives an answer. I'm asking for the why, only. Why can't you recycle the lids?

Answer 1

I am a recycle center supervisor in Traverse City.  Lids cannot be recycled on water bottles (or any #1 plastic bottle) because the lids are not made out of #1 plastic.  Therefore the lids cause contamination while the bottles are being recycled.  unlike #2 plastic, #1 plastic, known as PET, can't have contaminants in it when it is recycled. (#2 can generally tolerate small amounts, such as lids, without destroying an entire batch)  An entire batch of PET can be destroyed by just a little contamination.  The good news is this, the water bottles are sent through a crusher which pulverizes the lids and neck rings into tiny pieces while the bottle itself stays in one piece.  then a machine separates the little pieces out.  drive over one with a car and you'll see it happen, its really cool!  I think it is possible that the plastic mills will pay more for bottles without lids and neck rings, therefore further supporting your local recycle center.  Recycle centers usually can't cover their costs with the value of the plastic, paper, glass, etc alone and commonly rely on county government funding to continue serving the community. Remove lids =reduce amount of government funding needed to keep recycle centers going (even on #2 bottles and jugs) and eliminate contamination.

Answer 2

you actually can recycle plastic lids.  soda bottles, pringles cans, water jugs, milk jugs... even the little plastic rim that you break to open the bottle.  it can all be recycled.  if you're not sure where or how to do it, wal-mart can help you.  a major recycling project has just been started this year and you can bring all kinds of plastic, aluminum cans, or cardboard and paper.

Answer 3

It depends what kind of plastic the lids are made of, PP, PE and other in that family can be recycled, but some is made of two kinds of plastic that cannot blend, and some is made of plastic that cannot melt.

The test, can it float, and can it burn, then it can be recycled.

Answer 4

I was told one story that seems to make some sense. If the lid is on, then it is too easy for chemicals to be inside. It could have the potential to either explode or irritate the eyes and skin. So really, the answer is that they can recycle them, they just don't want the lids enclosing the container. Hope this answers your question, and unfortunately I'm not 100% sure of it's authenticity, but it makes the most sense to me. Have a good day.

Answer 5

I've thought of that of that before and my feeling is that it's not so much the top, as such, but the fact that it's on the container makes the whole unit much more difficult to compact.

Try a milk jug (:>)

Answer 6

You can recycle plastic lids.