How Many Times Can a Bottle be Recycled?

August 17, 2021

A plastic bottle can be recycled 2-3 times before it loses quality and becomes unfit for further recycling. However, cans made of metal can be recycled as many times as possible without losing quality.

Meanwhile, every time a bottle is recycled again, it significantly reduces in quality. It is because plastics are chains of atoms arranged in specific patterns called polymers. When the same bottle is recycled repeatedly, what makes it so flexible and gives it Its plastic characteristics is ruined.

Here are some other things you may not know about bottle and can recycling in Adelaide:

Glass Bottle Recycling

One glass bottle can be recycled forever- they don’t break down or lose their quality even when they’ve been recycled over and over. There are numerous reasons why glass can be recycled so many times . Most glass bottles you see around are made from recycled bottles.

When new glass bottles are being made, cullet is added to the resources used to make the new one. Cullet is a material obtained from crushed glass bottles and items during recycling. Cullet is then mixed with sand and other materials that are essential in making new glass bottles.

Add a glass bottle to your bottle and recycle items, and you’ll be making hundreds of bottles in the process. Cans can also be recycled as many times as possible because metal doesn’t degrade.

You Can’t Recycle Every Plastic Bottle Or Can

Slow down with the vast amount of plastic bottles you pick up without checking if they’re recyclable. Some people categorise plastic cups as recyclable, but they’re not acceptable. The plastic bottles accepted for recycling depend on the government and state.

It also includes what’s requested for the most in the market. Recycling depots only accept bottles or cans that manufacturers request; they cannot accept the plastics without any demand. After use, the state of the bottle and cans is also crucial because they can’t be recycled dirty.

However, some materials get irredeemably dirty after use; no amount of cleaning or elbow grease will make them clean. You should still take them to your recycling depot, though, so they can treat them properly.

Recycling depots in Adelaide are regulated by the government and can only accept items that are legally accepted. So before you go to the recycling depot, ask them about the types of materials they take for bottles and can recycle, so you’ll know before going.

You can check our website to know what we accept at Thorntons recycling, or you can just give us a call.

The Recycling Logo Doesn’t Mean It’s Recyclable

It must be a massive shocker because once anyone sees the recycled sign, they automatically assume the material it’s pasted on can be recycled, but that’s false. A recycling symbol can mean a bottle or be made out of recycled items, but it doesn’t mean you can recycle them.

For example, you can see the recycling logo on paper bottles, but they can’t be recycled. Which of these facts shocked you the most? There are a lot of things attached to bottles and can recycling that are easy to miss!

Come to Thornton’s recycling for your stress-free bottle and can drop it off!