Yeah I'm pretty sure it doesnt reallly make a difference if the caps in there or not, all the plastics go to the same place...
Most localities don't want the caps. Albuquerque doesn't want the caps. Here is some info from Mountain view CA: Q: Is the cap on a recyclable plastic bottle also recyclable? A: No, the cap is not recyclable for two reasons. First, the cap is made of a different plastic than the bottle (there are seven classifications of plastic), and the cap's plastic is usually one of the ones that isn't recycled at all because there is no market for it. Furthermore, this means that the two plastics must be separated before the recycling process begins because the seven different types of plastic are incompatible with each other and would cause potentially ruinous contamination if mixed. Secondly, if you look closely at the inside of the cap, you will see a thin film of clear plastic stretched over the harder plastic, which is used to provide a good seal when the cap is tightened on the bottle. Again, these are incompatible plastics (and anyway, they'd be difficult to separate efficiently). When plastic bottles are processed for recycling, laborers have to make sure the cap is separated and thrown away (and the "collar" too). Overall recycling costs would be reduced if all consumers removed the caps before recycling the bottles.
I would still recycle the caps anyway, just place them in a seperate place from the bottles and let the recycle peoples decide whether or not to take it. On the caps on the water bottles I get, there is a little recycle sign on them with a number 2 inside it. The best thing to do would be to read up on different kinds of plastics, how they are recycled and what they are used for after recycling. I'm pretty sure that even the kind of plastic used for water bottles can only be recycled once before heading to the landfill in a different form so check it out.
I think the rules are different for each area so check with your area for the local rules. I would suggest to not forget about the other "R". Reusing. Use the bottle a few times after a while no matter how much you wash it won't really be clean so then recycle it.
That was a really great question! I've been wondering about that a lot lately, having recently moved somewhere with a plastic recycling bin downstairs. Hmm. ~Nova
yeah. i just usually take mine off, put them in a baggie seperate from the bottles. or i just look to see what number plastic it is and put it in the bin for that type.
like someone else said, it depends on where you are. a lot of things can be recycled it just depends if county/town/city wants or is able to recycle it.
Like the others have said, it depends where you are. Just unscrew them and try and recycle them. If not, they're going to end up in the trash anyways. Some recycling facilities don't recycle certain plastics, and it's not too good. For example, styrofoam and similar is recyclable, but my city does not have any way of recycling it, and therefore it just ends up having to be thrown in the trash, and we all know styrofoam is hell for the enviroment. That stuff just will never break down. I would suggest phoning your city and finding out.
