How to Recycle Bottle Top Lids in Australia (and Why They Fall Through the Cracks)

Plastic bottle top lids are hard to recycle in Australia because they are too small for most kerbside sorting machinery, so they tend to fall through the screens and end up in landfill. Rules differ by council, so check yours. If lids are not accepted in your area, collect them at home in a jar and send them to BRAD, the Banish Recycling and Diversion Program.

Updated October 2026. Written by the Banish team.

Why do bottle top lids fall through the cracks?

Kerbside sorting is mostly automated. Material moves along belts, past screens and over spinning discs that separate paper, containers and everything else. The machinery is designed for larger items. Small pieces tend to fall through the gaps and end up in the residue stream, which goes to landfill.

A bottle top lid is about as small as a recyclable item gets. The problem is its size. Our yellow bin guide goes through this in more detail.

Should I leave the lid on the bottle?

It depends where you live. Some councils ask you to leave lids on bottles and jars. Others do not accept plastic lids at all. We cannot tell you the rule for your area, so check your council's website.

Whichever way it goes, the underlying problem is the same: a loose plastic lid is too small for most sorting. If your council does not accept plastic lids, collect them at home instead of binning them. Bottle lids are also covered in this BHG Australia article, which features Banish and BRAD.

How do I recycle bottle top lids?

The simplest way is to collect them and send them to BRAD. Here is how:

1. Collect. Keep plastic lids in a jar or bag as you use up bottles, milk, juice and detergent.
2. Check what is accepted. BRAD takes plastic bottle top lids. It does not accept metal bottle tops, or plastic bottle top rings and spouts.
3. Keep them clean and dry. Pack them loose, not in bags inside bags.
4. Send them in. Order a BRAD box with pre-paid return postage, fill it, and drop it at any Australia Post location. Sydney locals can also drop off during published collection days. Check our BRAD update page for current details.

Mixing lids with other accepted items, such as blister packs, makes sense, because a full box is a better use of postage than a nearly empty one. You can see the full list on the BRAD recycling program page, and the BRAD options guide will help you pick a size.

BRAD is a paid program; the price of a box covers getting the lids to us and sorting and processing them.

What happens to the lids?

BRAD sends material to Australian micro-recyclers. For lids, the process begins with sorting. They are then shredded and pressed into sheets of recycled plastic. Those sheets become pens, earrings, phone stands, coasters, gardening tools and more.

At Christmas, lids become decorations. Our Christmas decorations are handmade in Sydney from recycled bottle top lids, including the Star Pack and the Aussie Animals set. You can see everything we make from lids in the Made From Bottle Top Lids collection.

Our BRAD Impact Report has the full results so far.

Which lids can I put in the box?

Accepted:

• Plastic bottle top lids from drinks, milk, juice and cleaning products
• Lids that are clean and dry

Not accepted:

• Metal bottle tops
• Plastic bottle top rings and spouts

If you are unsure about a particular lid, check the accepted list before packing.

Is it worth collecting such small things?

Yes, because they add up. One lid is nothing, but a jar of them is a meaningful amount of plastic that would otherwise be lost. According to our FY25-26 BRAD impact report, BRAD recycled more than 1.6 million items in the last 12 months. It also kept 10.9 tonnes of tricky household waste out of landfill.

What if I want to collect lids for my office, school or group?

BRAD has a larger option, the Mega Box, designed for offices, schools and community groups. A shared jar by the kitchen or in the staffroom fills faster than one at home. Our BRAD options guide explains the differences.

What else can I send with my lids?

Lids are one of the items BRAD takes, but they are far from the only one. Blister packs, small empty beauty products, pens, plastic bread tags, toothbrushes and metal coffee pods can go in the same box. The more you collect, the fuller the box. Our guide to recycling right has more everyday examples.

Frequently asked questions

Can bottle top lids go in the yellow bin?

It depends on your council. Some ask you to leave lids on bottles, and others do not accept plastic lids at all. Check your council's rules.

Why are bottle top lids hard to recycle?

They are small, and kerbside sorting machinery tends to let small pieces fall through the screens into landfill.

How do I recycle plastic bottle top lids in Australia?

Collect them in a jar and send them to BRAD in a pre-paid box, or drop them off at our Sydney hub on published collection days.

What do bottle top lids become?

Sheets of recycled plastic that become pens, earrings, phone stands, coasters, gardening tools and Christmas decorations.