The short answer is NO. You don’t have to remove Labels from cans and bottles for recycling. BUT – if you want to be helpful and ensure that your recyclables are as clean and uncontaminated as possible, then YES, it’s a good thing to do.

What’s the deal with can labels?

The larger beverage companies can afford to print their designs directly on Aluminum cans, but many smaller craft beer breweries, soda makers and sparking water companies are using either shrink-wrapped or vinyl sticker labels because it’s more affordable for smaller batches.

When these aluminum cans are melted down for recycling, the labels are burned off and can cause equipment issues, hazardous emissions, impurities in the molten aluminum and other problems.

Currently the numbers of these types of cans in the overall mix are low enough that it isn’t causing a huge problem, but the manufacturers trying to recycle this stuff aren’t fans of the labels. They make the job harder and less profitable. And if plastic labels continue to be used more often, they could start to become a real issue.

So long story short – no, you don’t have to remove the labels, but you’d be doing a good deed if you take that extra step.

Removing can labels

The vinyl stickers can be peeled off, once you get a corner going, it is generally pretty easy to peel it off in one piece.

The shrink-wrapped labels can usually be ripped off easily too if you find the seam:

If you can get a fingernail or sharp object underneath that seam, it generally tears off pretty easily, and you’re left with this:

What about those plastic 6-pack can carriers?

We’ve got a whole article about How to Recycle Can Carriers (rigid plastic 6-pack rings) made by PakTech.

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