Bottle Tops

Bottle tops and lids must always be removed from any bottle or container you place in your recycling bin. Bottle tops and lids larger than the size of a business card (eg. lids from jam jars) are much easier to sort, and can be placed in recycling bins, provided they are separated from the bottle or container.

At this time, plastic bottle tops smaller than the size of a business card should not be placed in recycling bins, but steel and aluminium bottle tops can be recycled if you follow the directions below.

Bottle tops are too small to get collected in the sorting process, but if placed in a can of the same metal type they will get collected for melting with the appropriate material. To present these bottle tops for recycling you need to:

1. Wash the bottle tops to remove any food residue
2. Place the clean bottle tops inside a can of similar material – if a magnet sticks to it, it is steel – if not, it is aluminium.
3. Squeeze the can to close it so the bottle tops don’t fall out
4. Put the can in the correct recycling bin

The steel and aluminium from bottle tops can be turned into street signs, car parts and new bottle tops.

Steel, aluminium and other metals can be dropped off free of charge. Follow steps 1, 2 and 3 listed above to present steel and aluminium bottle tops for recycling at our sites.

Please visit our locations page to find a public drop-off facility near you or check your local council.

Most councils will accept steel and aluminium bottle tops in kerbside recycling bins. Follow the four steps listed above to recycle these bottle tops through kerbside collection.

Always remove plastic bottle tops and dispose of them with your usual household waste. This is important because it means the plastic bottle can be prepared for reprocessing more effectively and it keeps non-recyclable material out of the recyclable waste stream.