Are Pringles Cans Recyclable? | SustainabilityNook

Pringles are one of the most popular snacks in the world, and with good reason – these potato chips are tasty.

So it’s understandable why many of us are always stocking our kitchen cabinets with these snacks.

But what happens to their cylindrical cans once you’ve eaten them all? Can you recycle them? Should you just throw them away?

Well, that’s what we’re here to talk about.

Can you recycle Pringles cans?

For the most part, you can’t recycle Pringles cans, not fully anyway – recyclers usually only accept their plastic lids and steel bases.

While technically even their tubes can be recycled, this process is so difficult that most facilities don’t do it. This is because they have layers of different materials.

So far, the only people who have been successful in recycling entire cans are Terracycle. But this service is only available in the UK through a partnership between Terracycle and Pringles.

Through several drop-off points across the UK, this program has collected tonnes of Pringles cans and recycled them.

Once the cans reach the recycling facility, they are usually crushed and their individual components separated.

While their steel base is smelted, their plastic lids are made into pellets. On the other hand, the aluminum, plastic, and cardboard layers are separated through pulping.

This particularly removes the cardboard and prepares it to be used for a new pulp. After the separation, the aluminum and plastic layers are pelletized.

Ultimately, every part of the Pringles can is reused to create another product.

Are Pringles cans biodegradable?

No, Pringles cans aren’t biodegradable.

What bin do Pringles cans go in?

When getting rid of a Pringles can, the base and lid should go in the recycling bin while the tube should go in the trash bin.

How do you properly dispose of Pringles cans?

In most parts of the world, the best way to dispose of Pringles cans is to dismantle them, throw the tube in the trash and recycle the lid and base.

While this isn’t 100% eco-friendly, it is the best option most of us have.

But if you live in the UK, you have other options. You could either go with the Terracycle recycling program or use Bring Banks.

The latter are big bins found in the car parks of retail centers and supermarkets. There is one thing you should keep in mind when using Bring bank though – they don’t accept lids.

Can you reuse Pringles cans?

Yes, you can reuse Pringles cans. For instance, you can use them to create cute toys for your pets.

Alternatively, you could turn them into toy drum kits or space rockets for your kids.

And if you’re looking to go all out, you can even create some killer Christmas decorations.

Let’s be hopeful for the future

While currently disposing of Pringles cans is every environmentalist’s nightmare, there’s hope for the future.

Pringles’ manufacturers, Kellog, are currently working on a new can design made of recycled paper.

If all things go well, we may end up with packaging that is fully recyclable and even compostable!