Can you recycle metal jar lids and bottle caps?
♻️ Yes — kerbside recycling
Jar lids loosely back on jars; small caps collected inside a can
Steel jar lids and metal bottle caps are recyclable but small items get lost in sorting. Put jar lids loosely back on the (rinsed) glass jar; collect small crown caps inside a steel food tin and pinch it closed so they travel together. Magnetic sorting recovers steel; aluminium caps are eddy-current sorted.
Tips
- Collect beer-bottle caps in a tin can, then pinch it shut
- Jar lids loosely back on the jar
Which bin does it go in?
Jar lids loosely back on jars; small caps collected inside a can
Background: Recycling symbols explained.
Also searched as: jam jar lids, beer caps, crown caps.
✓ Checked against current UK guidance: 14 Jul 2026. Spot an error or an out-of-date rule?