Does Costco Have Bottle & Can Return in 2024? The Complete Guide
Recycling bottles and cans can significantly help our environment. With increased consumer awareness around sustainability, many now ask: does Costco have a bottle and can return program?
The answer is yes – Costco offers bottle and can recycling at many warehouse locations across the United States. As a leading big-box retailer, Costco has embraced initiatives to reduce waste and enable community recycling.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll explore everything you need to know about returning bottles and cans through Costco‘s recycling program.
The Environmental Benefits of Bottle and Can Recycling
Americans go through over 50 billion aluminum cans per year, requiring significant natural resources to produce. Recycling just one aluminum can saves enough energy to power a TV for 3 hours.
For plastic #1 PET bottles, recycling reduces energy consumption by 84% compared to making virgin plastic. It also keeps billions of PET bottles out of landfills each year.
Glass bottles can be endlessly recycled. Each glass bottle re-melted saves enough electricity to light a bulb for 4 hours.
Through bottle and can recycling programs, major retailers like Costco help capture these materials in the waste stream and give them new life.
How Costco Facilitates Bottle and Can Recycling
Costco offers designated bottle and can recycling machines in the parking lots of most warehouse locations. They have partnered with Tomra, an industry leader in reverse vending technology, to operate the facilities.
These Tomra recycling machines use advanced technology to quickly sort, collect and count containers. Costco members simply bring their empty bottles and cans to these stations for convenient recycling and cash redemption.
Tomra Reverse Vending Machines at Costco
Costco utilizes Tomra‘s T-83 Baler reverse vending machines for bottle and can collection. These machines can intake over 3,000 containers per hour.
The T-83 Baler automatically accepts metal, plastic and glass containers through separate inlet chutes. Integrated barcode scanners identify each container and provide accuracy in sorting and counting.
Tomra machines compress the collected bottles and cans into bales for more efficient transportation. The technology maximizes recycling convenience while capturing high container volumes.
Locating Costco Recycling Machines in Your Area
To find your closest Costco recycling location:
Check the Costco Warehouse Locator and look for "Bottle Recycling" as an on-site service.
Search bottle and can recycling maps from sites like RecycleNation.
Call your local Costco warehouse directly to ask about bottle and can recycling availability.
Hours and participation can vary by location, so calling ahead is recommended. Costco posts signage directing customers to recycling facilities in store parking lots.
Step-By-Step: How to Recycle Bottles and Cans at Costco
Once you locate a Costco recycling machine, the process is quick and easy:
Separate containers – Put plastics, glass, and aluminum in designated inlet chutes.
Feed items in one by one – Machine scans and counts each bottle or can entered.
Watch the tally – Digital display shows your cumulative cash redemption value.
Get your receipt – Press the "Print Receipt" button when finished.
Cash in – Take receipt to Costco Customer Service desk to collect your earnings.
Bottle caps and labels can stay on during recycling. The smart machines automatically sort materials.
Daily Limits
Certain states enforce daily limits on bottle and can returns to deter fraud. Common limits are 50 containers per person per day. Check local laws for details.
Non-Members Can Participate
You do not need to be a Costco member to redeem bottles and cans at their recycling machines. Anyone can utilize the facilities.
State Container Deposit Laws
The refund values given for recycled bottles and cans will vary based on state laws. Here are a few examples:
| State | Refund Per Container | Details |
|---|---|---|
| California | 5¢ | Up to $5 redemption per visit |
| Michigan | 10¢ | Up to $25 redemption per day |
| New York | 5¢ | Limit 60 containers per person daily |
Contact your local Costco warehouse to learn the specific reimbursement rate and limits in your state.
Why Choose Costco for Bottle and Can Recycling?
Costco‘s bottle and can return program offers many benefits:
Convenience – One-stop recycling with easy parking lot access. Machines streamline sorting and counting.
Speed – Barcode scanning technology provides fast processing. No waiting in lines.
Cash incentives – Receive immediate reimbursement through cash vouchers.
High capacity – Sites equipped to handle high volumes from members.
Helps the earth – Facilitates getting more recyclables out of landfills and waste.
Check for a recycling machine at your local Costco to enjoy easy and efficient bottle and can returns!
