How to Recycle Plastic Bottles & Aluminum Cans

Recycling bottles and cans is easy, and possibly easy money, too.

For some reason, Americans recycle aluminum cans better than they recycle than plastic bottles. The Aluminum Association reports that we recycled roughly five out of 10 aluminum cans in 2008. On the other hand, we saved only two out of 10 plastic water bottles from landfills that same year, according to the Container Recycling Institute. Either way, the 100 percent recycling mark remains distant. Do your part in better capturing and recycling plastic bottles and aluminum cans. A little vigilance and determination will go a long way towards benefiting our environment. You might even make some money in the process.

Instructions

Lay the Groundwork

1. Use Earth911's online recycling directory (see the link in the Reference section) to identify local recycling service providers, drop-off locations and buy-back centers. Key in "aluminum can" or "plastic bottles" and your zip code.

2. Learn how your recycling service provider or center would like to receive your bottles and cans. Most do not have any special requirements.

3. Conveniently position recycling bins or bags next to your main trash bin to receive cans and bottles as they are tossed. Consider setting up the same system in other rooms of your house.

4. Carry a well-padded container or trash bag in your vehicle to collect water bottles and beverage cans that you empty on the road or find littered at a public place or event.

Plastic Bottles

1. Rinse out bottles and caps to avoid bugs and odors, especially if you to plan to store them for some time to accumulate volume.

2. Keep caps on bottles unless otherwise requested by your recycling service or buy-back center. Loose caps tend to get lost in the shuffle, but some recycling services may prefer to receive uncapped bottles to more easily crush them flat.

3. Remove labels only if requested.

4. Place your bottles in your curbside bin for collection, or deliver them to a drop-off location or buy-back center once you've gathered a large enough load.

5. At a buy-back center weigh your load, or count your refundable pieces, to get paid for your recycled plastic bottles.

Aluminum Cans

1. Rinse out cans to avoid bugs and odors, especially if you to plan to store them for some time to accumulate volume.

2. Crush the cans by hand, by foot or with a can crusher, if you have one. Though typically not required, you will save considerable space.

3. Place your cans in your curbside bin for collection, or deliver them to a drop-off location or buy-back center once you've gathered a big enough load.

4. At a buy-back center weigh your load, or count your refundable pieces, to get paid for your recycled aluminum cans.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider reusing plastic bottles and aluminum cans for other purposes. See Resources for some great ideas.

• Consider building or buying a can crusher.

• Consider using a main trash bin designed with different sorting compartments.

• Pay close attention to what kind of plastic bottles your recycling service accepts and how it wants them sorted. Mixing the wrong types of materials together in a bin could lower the quality and value of your stash.

References

• Aluminum Association, Inc.: Facts at a Glance--2008
• Earth911: 360---Recycling Plastic Bottles
• Recycle Now: How to Recycle Plastic Bottles
• Easy Home Recycling: How To Recycle Aluminum Cans

Resources

• Make-Stuff: Things You Can Do with Plastic Pop Bottles
• Info Barrel: Recycle Plastic Bottles--Five Great Ideas
• Energy Boom Solar Energy: Cheap DIY Solar Collectors Made From Recycled Soda and Beer Cans