Which recyclables are actually worth money in Thailand

Recyclable waste is not just bottles and paper, and preparing it properly can nearly double what you get for it. Here is what is worth collecting and how to get the most out of it.

Metals — the highest value

Aluminium fetches the highest price per kilogram of any common household recyclable, because melting old aluminium uses roughly 95% less energy than smelting it from ore.

Soft drink and beer cans (aluminium)
Food and condensed milk cans (steel)
Copper from old wiring
Stainless steel, old pots and pans

Getting a better price: crush cans flat to save space, and separate aluminium from steel — test with a magnet, steel sticks and aluminium does not. Pre-sorted metal fetches more than a mixed load.

Plastics

Plastic comes in many grades with very different values. Check the number inside the triangle on the underside of the container.

PET (1) — clear water and soft drink bottles; the best price in the plastics group, especially uncoloured ones
HDPE (2) — milk bottles, detergent jugs, shampoo bottles
PP (5) — food containers, bottle caps, plastic buckets

Getting a better price: clear, uncoloured PET is worth noticeably more than blue or green bottles. Remove the cap and the label, which are different plastics from the bottle itself.

Paper

Corrugated cardboard — bulky, moderate price per kilogram
White office paper — worth more than coloured paper
Newspaper and magazines
Ordinary paper boxes

Getting a better price: paper must be completely dry — wet paper is heavily discounted or refused outright. Fold it flat and tie it into bundles, and keep white paper separate from coloured.

Glass

Beer, fish sauce and soda bottles — unbroken bottles with a clear brand fetch more, because they can simply be washed and reused
Glass jars
Broken glass — still sellable but at a much lower price; box it securely and label it for the safety of whoever handles it

Things people wrongly think are recyclable

Snack and coffee sachets — layers of plastic bonded to aluminium that cannot be separated
Paper coffee cups — plastic-lined inside to make them waterproof
Thermal receipts — chemically coated paper that contaminates the paper recycling stream
Foam food containers — technically recyclable, but almost no buyer accepts them because they are light and easily soiled
Tissue paper — the fibres are too short to be recycled again

Where to sell it

Local scrap dealers remain the main channel, and prices move with global commodity markets for each material, so it is worth calling ahead before hauling anything over. Beyond that, many shopping malls run recycling drop-off points that award loyalty points, and there are apps that will collect larger quantities from your home.

Not selling? The yellow bin still helps

Recyclables put in a yellow bin are sorted further downstream rather than simply being buried. Just getting them into the right bin already keeps a meaningful amount of waste out of landfill. You can find the nearest recorded recycling bins on the maps on this site.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to wash plastic bottles before selling them?

Rinse them and let them dry. Bottles with milk or sugary drink left inside grow mould and smell, which gets them discounted or refused by the buyer.

Are broken glass bottles still worth anything?

Yes, but much less than intact ones, because they have to be melted down rather than washed and reused. Box broken glass securely and label it for the safety of whoever handles it.

Can UHT milk cartons be recycled?

Yes, but only through a dedicated scheme, because they bond paper, plastic and aluminium together. Flatten, rinse and dry them before sending. Ordinary scrap dealers generally will not take them.

📱 Open the bin map on your phone Bin Locator navigates you to the nearest bin and lets you pin new ones you find. Free on Google Play.