Can you recycle glass bottles?

Glass bottles — wine, beer, spirits, sauces, oils — are infinitely recyclable and are a core kerbside material across the UK (mandatory in every English collection under Simpler Recycling since March 2026). Rinse them, and put metal caps back on loosely or in with metals depending on your council's advice. Corks come out (natural cork can be composted or sent to cork recycling schemes).

Tips

• A quick rinse is enough — no need to scrub labels off
• Metal screw caps can usually go back on the bottle
• Colours don't need separating at kerbside

Which bin does it go in?

Glass recycling bin/box, or bottle bank

Background: The 10 recycling mistakes that ruin lorry-loads.

Also searched as: wine bottles, beer bottles, sauce bottles.