Screw Caps Alternative ways to recycle Trash Plastic screw caps can be left on plastic bottles and placed in the recycling container. Loose plastic screw caps should be placed in the trash. Metal screw caps should be placed in the trash. Loose metal bottle caps and jar lids can be placed in the recycling.* *Please do not stuff or crimp different metal types together in a singular container; place them loose in the recycling. Athens Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) uses a magnet and eddy current separator to grab both ferrous and non-ferrous metal types. Plastic Caps Are Different Plastic caps have separate disposal instructions. Find out how to dispose of plastic caps. Recycle Metal Jar Lids Metal jar lids greater than 2-3 inches in diameter can be recycled. Make sure they are separated from their jars so they can be sorted correctly. Alternative Ways to Recycle Metal Screwcaps Are Scrap Metal Metal screw caps can be collected and recycled with other scrap metal. Simply separate aluminum caps (non-magnetic) from steel caps (magnetic).