Small Plastic Bottle Caps
- DO remove them from their bottles before placing bottles in recycling
- DON’T put these caps in curbside recycling
- DO consider dropping-off or mailing-in these lids to special recycling programs (see below)
About These Items
These small plastic caps come on everything from milk jugs to ketchup bottles. They are so small that if they are left loose in the recycling they can fall through or get caught in sorting equipment. Although some recycling processors accept these caps when they are attached to their bottles, the City of Pittsburgh does not take them at all. Remove all removable caps from any bottles, jugs, or jars that you put into curbside recycling.
Drop-off or Mail-in Caps.
Most caps like these are made from rigid #5 (polypropylene or PP) plastic or #2 (High-density polyethylene or HDPE). They can be mailed into Preserve’s Gimme5 program or dropped off locally at Reimagined Recycling.
Drop-off at Reimagined Recycling
Reimagined Recycling is a local program that collects rigid #2 and #5 plastics to be shredded and turned into raw materials to be made into new plastic items.
They run collections on select Sundays at 1225 Larimer Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206. Currently collection events are announced on their Instagram @reimaginedrecyling or on their facebook page. Please check these links for exact dates and times of collection events.
Items must be cleaned with all labels removed. Please remember to wear a mask and follow Reimagined Recycling on for updates and more exciting news to come!
Drop-off at Michael Brothers Hauling
Michael Brothers Hauling is collecting ALL #1 and #2 plastics (including clamshells, cups, etc) at their location at 901 Horning Rd. 15236. They also accept (and even pay for) scrap metal. Their drop-off is a drive through.
Mail to Preserve’s Gimme 5 program with other rigid #5 plastics.
Preserve runs a collection program called Gimme 5 that accepts #5 plastics, all plastic caps, prescription bottles, toothbrushes, and dip & dairy containers.
Please note that as of June 29, 2022, Preserver has still paused their Gimme 5 mail in program due to logistical challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Please note that their Preserve Toothbrush Takeback program IS running during this time.
You can mail in your #5 plastics to the Gimme 5 program. (To make this mail-in recycling program as environmentally-friendly as possible, Preserve encourages you to reuse a box and pack it densely, and if possible, ship by ground.)
Mail to:
Preserve Gimme 5
823 State Route 13
Cortland, NY 13045-6574
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