Does it cost anything?

There is no cost to register as a ReCORK recycling partner. The cost involved would be shipping the corks you collect to us.

How does the cork shipping process work?

Corks are shipped directly to our closest processing facility. Send your corks in a large, used cardboard box. Shipments of cork between 15 to 30 pounds are the most economically and environmentally efficient.

Why do I have to pay to ship my corks?

Unlike most other recycling programs, the service provided by ReCORK is free. Since the beginning, we’ve been committed not to ask for any enrollment or membership fees from our partners. But running a recycling service requires significant logistical and operational costs and unfortunately it is no longer economically sustainable for us to pay for the shipping of partners' corks.

Are you making money from the corks I’m sending you for free?

We are an independent organization with no government funding or participation/enrollment fees. We need an income to exist. We do sell products and materials made with the corks our partners send us, but our primary goal is not to earn profit. Our primary goal is to make a positive difference in the world by harnessing the potential of an incredible material that without you, and without us, will otherwise go to waste.

Do you buy corks?

We do not buy corks from anybody. We offer a service for companies and individuals who would like to recycle their corks in order to minimize their impact on the planet.

What does it mean to be a Public Collection partner?

Public Collection Partners collect corks from their customers and other members of the public.

What does it mean to be a Private Collection partner?

Private Collection Partners are businesses that collect cork privately as part of doing business.

I have a few corks. Where can I drop them off?

If you only have a small amount of cork, please drop it off at a Public Collection Partner in your area, rather than shipping it to us.

I have lots of cork. Can I ship it directly to you?

We are happy to receive corks directly from individuals, but please only do so if you have 15lbs or more as this is the threshold for environmentally efficient shipments. Please do not send corks to us in small individual shipments; instead, encourage your friends to save their corks until you reach 15 pounds. Then reach out to corksupport at recork.com for details on where to ship your corks.

What can I do locally to support Recycling Partners?

Patronize your local Recycling Partners. If you spot a ReCORK Recycling Partner decal on a storefront window, that business supports ReCORK. Our partners often include restaurants, wine bars, and vineyards. Help them in their recycling efforts by stopping in for a glass of wine!

Are wines with natural corks better for the environment?

When you reach for a bottle, look for those with natural corks. Buying bottles with natural cork promotes cork harvesting, which extends the lifespan of cork trees and supports the conservation over 6.7 million acres of ecologically sensitive cork forests.

How do I know which wines use natural corks?

Find natural cork at recork.com/corkwatch.

How can I support cork forests?

The best thing you can do to support the cork forest is to choose cork products whenever possible. There is a common myth that we are facing a cork shortage. In reality, the single greatest threat to the cork forests is a reduction in global demand. If you stop buying cork, then cork forests really will disappear!

Why are you guys so excited about cork anyway?

We love cork! It is an amazing and unique natural raw material.

What we know as "corks" are actually just the bark of a cork oak tree. The bark is harvested from live trees by hand every nine years. The process causes no harm and the tree does not get cut down. In fact, bark harvesting helps the tree grow bigger and extends its lifespan to over 200 years.

The larger a cork oak grows, the more carbon dioxide it locks away. It's sealed right in! Because the bark is harvested regularly and the tree never gets cut down, cork oak trees are amazing carbon sinks.

Clearly, we could talk about how great cork is all day long, but you should really check it out for yourself. More information on the benefits of cork can be found in the reports and documents linked here.

I've heard there is a shortage of cork in the world. Is that true?

The answer is no. This is a common myth. In reality, the single greatest threat to the cork forests is a reduction in global demand. Support the cork forest by choosing cork products whenever possible.

What is ReCORK's privacy policy?

Your privacy is very important to us. Learn more about our privacy policy, here.