Bottle-tops for Charity

How many times have you thrown the lid from the milk bottle into the yellow container, together with the rest of the recycling? Or the top off a bottle of clothes conditioner, or a water bottle… If we pay attention to what we throw out on a daily basis, we quickly realise that many of the containers that we use have a plastic lid or a bottle-top. And, although throwing them into the plastic recycling container is perfectly adequate, separating them and saving them for a good cause is so much better.

Collection of solidarity bottle-tops

The bottle-tops or lids in domestic use are a very valuable element for recycling, as the type of plastic used in their production is very high quality, and is non-toxic. From the pump on a soap dispenser, to the plastic cover on a tin of pâté, the lid of a deodorant or any other hygiene, cleaning or food product can be donated.

Although it would be possible to collect whole product containers, i.e., the bottle as well as the lid, food, hygiene or beauty product containers have a lot of empty space inside which cannot be filled, and which takes up a lot of room. It is for this reason that only bottle-tops are collected for charity, to finance numerous initiatives, above all in the health sector.

Together, we can make it all add up…

For every ton of plastic collected and handed in to an authorised recycling point, it is possible to earn between 200 and 400 euros. This may seem insignificant when talking about operations or sanitary material which cost thousands of euros, but the solidarity of many people can achieve great things. This is why it is so important to make the public at large aware of this project.

Most of the campaigns organised to collect bottle-tops are aimed at financing operations or medical supplies for people suffering from rare or degenerative diseases. It’s a sad fact, but very often the public health system is obliged to channel its funds to the problems with the widest social impact, and when there is a person who suffers from a condition that is outside the norm, they are forced to look for alternative ways of finding money to improve their quality of life.

Where can I donate bottle-tops?

There are many associations, especially municipal or provincial, which are responsible for setting up their own collection points in local shops and businesses, and then picking them up to deliver them to the recycling plant. This may be the quickest way to collaborate on those projects that are closest to our heart. 

In any event, if we want to help and we are not aware of a specific case, there are several businesses that collect bottle-tops for purely altruistic reasons, and later take care of their delivery to recycling plants, thus obtaining funds that go towards different projects, such as the Hospital La Fé in València, the Seur Foundation, Hospital Vall d’Ebron in Barcelona, the Alicante Bus Station, Murcia Town Hall, the Jaume I University in Castellón, etc.

So, if you are interested in collaborating, find out about it for yourself and make it a habit to save bottle-tops. Just like washing our teeth every day, or recycling our waste at home, it’s a simple matter to get into the habit of separating the tops and lids from our plastic containers. By changing our habits just a little, everyone can do their bit for a good cause.