Earth Month Challenge: Republic Services Encourages Consumers to Recycle Plastic Water Bottles

Myth: Plastic bottles can't be recycled; Fact: Water bottles can be recycled approximately 6 times – but only 3 in 10 make it into a recycling bin

PHOENIX, April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Republic Services is challenging consumers this Earth Month to take action and recycle their plastic water bottles. The recycling rate for single-use water bottles is only 33%¹, meaning that nearly 7 in 10 bottles never make it into a recycling bin.

"There's a big misconception that plastic can't be recycled," said Pete Keller, vice president of recycling and sustainability at Republic Services. "In fact, we recycle 300 million pounds of plastic every year, and this material is in high demand to produce new bottles and jugs. Everyone should be recycling their water and beverage bottles. It's not difficult to do, and this small action will make a difference one bottle at a time."

Republic Services is a leader in plastics recycling, with a network of facilities specifically designed to help transform plastic bottles and jugs collected from residents' curbside bins into new plastic bottles and jugs. Over the next few years, Republic Services expects to invest $500 million in plastics recycling facilities. Last year, the company estimates that it recycled more than 2.5 billion water bottles².

What consumers need to know about plastic bottle recycling:

• Only 3 in 10 water bottles make it into a recycling bin
• 7 in 10 water bottles are discarded when they could be recycled
• Water bottles can be recycled an estimated 6 times
• Recyclables should be empty, clean and dry
• Keep the cap on the bottle when recycling

Republic Services is joining the Association of Plastic Recyclers in May for a nationwide open house to show the public how recyclables are sorted and processed to become valuable new materials. To find a recycling center tour, visit plasticsrecycling.org/recycling-in-action.

For more recycling tips, go to Republic Services' RecyclingSimplified.com.

About Republic Services
Republic Services, Inc. is a leader in the environmental services industry. Through its subsidiaries, the Company provides customers with the most complete set of products and services, including recycling, solid waste, special waste, hazardous waste and field services. Republic's industry-leading commitments to advance circularity and support decarbonization are helping deliver on its vision to partner with customers to create a more sustainable world. For more information, please visit RepublicServices.com.

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¹ https://napcor.com/news/2023-pet-bottle-recycling-reach-new-heights/
² PET equivalent

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SOURCE Republic Services, Inc.