Unfortunately, we are not able to make donations or merchandise exchanges at this time. Weisenbach Recycled Products is a small company of just 14 employees. We do not profit from the Caps Can Do® program, and we simply do not have the resources to fulfill donation requests.
We encourage organizations to look for local businesses or other sponsors that might be able help to cover the costs or provide donations to be used as prizes, incentives, etc.
Can you make a donation to my school/non-profit/organization for participation in the recycling program?
How do I recycle my plastic caps?
First, please check with your local municipal recycler to see if bottle cap recycling is available in your area. Many facilities are now offering consumers the ability to recycle bottles with the caps on. We also encourage everyone to check Earth911.com to see if other recycling facilities exist where you live.
If facilities do not exist in your area and you would like to recycle your caps with us, please send your plastic caps to our office at: 437 Holtzman Ave, Columbus, OH 43205
For full details, please check our Recycle Your Caps page.
Can you pick up the caps we have collected?
In most situations we are not able to make pick-ups. We are beginning to wind-down our local cap collection efforts as the City of Columbus curbside recycling program now offers recycling of bottles with the caps on. We encourage everyone to see if “caps on’ is available in your area and to take advantage of these recycling programs near you.
What kinds of plastic do you accept for recycling?
Our recycling program focuses mainly on plastic bottle caps. We can also recycle other clean plastic items that are marked with the #5 recycling symbol (like yogurt cups). Caps are NOT typically marked with the #5 symbol. We only ask that non-cap items be marked with the #5 recycling symbol. For complete guidelines, please visit our Recycle Your Caps page.
Do you offer containers for collecting caps?
Yes, we offer a variety containers to meet the needs of customers looking to recycle caps at home, in the office, or in large public spaces. Using our containers makes collecting caps a snap. You can even order custom labels for your containers with your logo, message, the CapsCanDo® logo, and guidelines for the types of plastic to place in the container.
We also offer stock design Caps Can Do® labels so customers can designate their own containers for recycling. Please visit our Cap Collection Bins page to see the full selection.
How can I tell if my caps are made from polypropylene?
Most caps from containers like laundry detergent or soda, peanut butter jars and flip-caps from shampoo are made from polypropylene. A test for items you’re not sure of: try bending it. If it cracks or breaks, it’s another type of brittle plastic and is not polypropylene. For many items, you can look for the #5 recycling symbol. Plastic caps, however, are typically not labeled so don’t worry if you don’t see a #5 recycling symbol on those.
Happily, many facilities now offering consumers the ability to recycle bottles with the caps on. We are pleased to see this trend catching on at a large-scale level. This is very encouraging news for recyclers & for the environment. It will increase the amount of plastic caps recycled and will make recycling easier for consumers. We encourage everyone to check with their local municipal provider to see if ‘caps on’ is available in your area.
However, not all areas have this capability yet. Industry based recycling requirements have historically required the removal of caps from bottles. Most community recycling is processed at an MRF (Material Recovery Facilities). These are huge operations with sophisticated equipment that separate glass, paper, plastic & metal into distinct areas to be prepared for sale in large lots. MRF's sort out plastic bottles then compress & bale them to be sold. The compressing equipment handles huge quantities of bottles. Caps left on bottles can 'blast off' when the bottle is compressed, creating a hazard. That's one of the reasons why guidelines for recycling programs have historically requested that caps be removed. At most MRFs, there isn’t an efficient means to collect & bundle the caps. The small market for plastic from caps hasn’t historically warranted redesign & new equipment investment, but that is changing.
We’re a small business that manufactures products from bottle cap material. We hand-sort caps & put them directly into production. We rely on the collection channels that we've established & work to expand the markets for the great products we make from waste plastic & other materials. We help recycle caps for people who can not yet do so at their local recycling facility.
Caps for Chemo and Other Hoaxes
It is extremely unfortunate, but there seem to be a number of schemes & urban legends involving the collection of bottle caps for cancer treatment, chemotherapy, or prosthetic limbs. In every circumstance we have come across, these are illegitimate hoaxes.
It is hard to comprehend why anyone would want to prey on people with cancer or those looking to help a great cause, but unfortunately, we have been contacted by several individuals who have fallen victim to these schemes. Seemingly there is no benefit to the person(s) spreading the rumors. The intentions are simply cruel.
To the best of our knowledge, there is no legitimate organization that is providing funds, medical treatment or chemotherapy for plastic bottle caps.
If you have been the victim of such a scheme, we will be happy to recycle the bottle caps for you, but unfortunately we are not able to provide any financial compensation.
If you are aware of a legitimate organization that IS providing this service, please contact us. We want to provide the best, most complete information possible.
Can you send me caps for special projects/contests, etc.?
We can not send caps or bottle cap codes to individuals or organizations for contests, art projects, or for any other reason.
We understand that there are many worthy organizations who collect bottle caps for a variety of reasons, from art projects to winning contests that involve collecting bottle caps or codes from the caps. While we applaud their efforts to raise funds & awareness for their causes, we are obliged to destroy the caps that we receive.
- Caps are sent to CapsCanDo® at the end of their current product life, to be turned into new, useful product. It is our commitment to prevent litter, raise awareness & RECYCLE caps!
- It would be unethical for us to choose contest winners or losers. Providing caps would give an unfair advantage to some and could cause a conflict of interest for our business. Also, the likelihood is that codes on the caps we receive may have already been entered by others.
- We receive thousands of caps. Seeking out specific caps would take additional manpower and financial resources that our small company cannot provide.
- Shipping caps after they have been sent here for recycling would not only consume unnecessary energy but would also create uncertainty as to what happens to the caps afterward. We are obliged to make sure the caps are recycled.
Polypropylene, also known as PP or #5, is an extremely strong and durable plastic resin so it is the ideal choice for caps. We count on tight seals to keep beverages fresh and safe. PP’s properties allow tamper resistant tops and keep in the fizz with a twist.
Where can I recycle other materials?
If you are looking to recycle materials other then plastic #5, please visit 1800Recycling.com or Earth911.com. These are very helpful recycling location search engines. Simply type in the material you are looking to recycle and your zip code. You will be shown a list of recyclers and facilities in your area.
