Prescription Bottle Recycling Without Harming Environment.

Two Very Popular Sizes- Prescription Bottle Recycling

What Can I Recycle?  Today I am going to tell you a little bit about prescription bottles and why you should not throw them away.  I am also going to tell you the proper way to clean them so that nasty drugs and chemicals do not end up in the waterways and environment. 

Used, empty, clean prescription bottles have a variety of uses.  They make good coin holders.  They are ideal for some crafts and they are excellent little storage containers. Prescription bottles are recyclable plastic ( #5 plastic).  Many municipalities will accept them on recycling day.  But, if you want to make a little money on them, you can sell them for storage containers.  Here is how I have sold hundreds of prescription bottles and made quite a bit of money:

First of all you need to make sure they are clean with no drug residue.

1.   To achieve this without harming the environment, obtain an old strainer from a yard sale or one that you have that you don't mind using for cleaning prescription bottles.  Once you have an old strainer, fill each empty bottle with hot soapy water 3/4 of the way full.  Put the lid back on the bottle and shake it real good.  NOTE:  Try not to overfill the bottle or else some drug residue might go down your sink. 

2.  Let the bottles sit for 5 minutes so that the water dissolves all of the drug residue on the sides and bottom of the bottle.

3.  Take three paper towels and put them inside of your strainer. 

4.  Dump each bottle of water into your strainer.  This removes a large portion of the drug residue that was in the bottles (even if you dont see it).

5.  Now rinse your bottles out above the strainer and then put them on a table with a towel under them so that they can dry. 

6.  Place your paper towels in an area where they can dry out.  After they dry, dispose of them; preferably by burning them. 

You have just cleaned the bottles responsibly and now you can use them, recycle them, or sell them for a profit.

Where can you sell them?  I have sold hundreds on eBay and you can too.  This is essentially free money because you needed the pills anyway.  Now, I will tell you how to sell them on eBay. 

1.  Wait until you have a dozen or so to sell.
2.  Watch your shipping cost.  You want to sell the number of prescription bottles that can be mailed first class.  Once your package goes over 13 ounces, you have to use either priority mail or parcel post which is expensive and will increase the price of the bottles tremendously.
3.  Get small boxes like 6 X 6 X 6.  Tape the box and leave the top open.  Toss your bottles in the box and weigh them on your postal scale.  If you do not have a postal scale, I recommend a Pelouze scale.  It is very accurate and will give you years of use if you do not drop it.  I use this one and have been very pleased with it:

Pelouze SP5 Digital Postal Scale 0% 0.10 oz 1 1 Year Limited 1 g 1.75" Height x 6" Width x 8" Depth6" Diameter 2.20 kg 4 4.40 lb 5 lb 9 V DC Low battery indicator Postal Scale features an easy-to-read, four-digit LCD with auto-zero function upon start up and auto-shut off to preserve battery after 30 seconds of inactivity. Operates on one 9 volt alkaline battery (sold separately). Tare function to remove weight of container to display only the content weight. Postal scale has 6" diameter platform and low-battery indicator. Auto Shut-off Auto Tare Off Function Auto Zero Function Battery Digital Postal Scale Gram Gray Kilogram LCD No Ounce PP3 (9 Volt) Pelouze Pound SP5 SP5 Digital Postal Scale Sanford, L.P. www.sanford.com

4.  When you hit twelve ounces that is the magic number.  Do not place anymore bottles in your box. 
5.  Offer free shipping and figure this cost into your starting price. 
6.  In your description, please say something like this or copy this:  "These bottles have been cleaned making sure that no drug residue entered the environment.  If you would like to see how I cleaned them to be environmentally responsible, please visit:  http://what-can-i-recycle.blogspot.com/
7.  Many people care about the environment and will choose your bottles over others that just dump them in a pile and sell them.  Even if they cost more. 
8.  List your bottles in this category:  crafts and storage containers
9.  If you need help selling on eBay, I also have a blog that can help you.  I have been selling on ebay successfully for years.  That blog is here===> How to eBay

Tips for selling your bottles:

-2 sizes sell the best.  These sizes are T-13 and T16 which should be stamped on the bottom of your bottles.  If not try looking for 23A and 38C. 
-Try not to mix and match your containers.  They sell best in lots of the same size.
-Do not lose money selling them. 
-Always know precisely how much you are making per sale.  If you need help with this, I offer a spreadsheet on my ebay blog that can be used to tell you exactly how much you profit after postal fees, eBay fees, cost of box and tape etc. 
-If you need help, ask.  I am here to help you keep harmful drug residues from entering our environment.