Recycling guides

RecycleFind publishes how-to guides for aluminum, plastic, electronics, scrap metal, and household waste. Each guide covers what the material is, who takes it, and what it is worth.

Energy saved and U.S. recycling rates

Bar chart of energy saved by recycling vs. making new: aluminum 95%, copper 85%, plastic and steel 70%, paper 40%, glass 30%. — Energy saved by recycling vs. virgin manufacturing, by material. Sources: US EPA; Aluminum Assn.; Copper Development Assn.

Bar chart of US recycling rates from EPA's 2018 data: steel cans 70.9%, paper and paperboard 68.2%, aluminum cans 50.4%, glass containers 31.3%, PET bottles and jars 29.1%, and all plastics 8.7%. — EPA's most recent nationwide Facts and Figures dataset is from 2018, not 2025.

Explore recycling by goal

Start with the question you need answered, then move between the calculator, material guide, and practical next step.

Scrap metal prices and selling

Identify a metal, estimate its value, prepare the load, and compare current yard-price ranges.

Junk cars and auto recycling

Compare whole-car, converter, battery, and parts value before choosing a recycler or buyer.

Household recycling and sorting

Check an item, avoid contamination, prepare it correctly, and find a local drop-off option.

Electronics and batteries

Protect data, separate batteries, compare reuse with scrap value, and use the right collection route.

Construction debris and junk removal

Estimate volume and cost, choose a container, and separate recoverable jobsite materials.

Sell a junk car and arrange pickup

Junk car removal for cash

Check a Peddle offer with free pickup.

Junk car removal without title

Check an offer for a car with a missing title.

We buy junk cars for $1000

See what your own car could bring.

Featured guides

Material how-tos, scrap selling, and household disposal

Brass shell casing scrap value and recycling

Check spent-casing acceptance, compare weight-based quotes, and find the right buyer.

Kyocera toner cartridge recycling

Arrange dealer-supplied collection boxes and check the current U.S. program limits.

How to strip copper wire for scrap

Compare insulated and stripped wire, choose a safe method, and prepare it for a scrap yard.

Household

Home recycling guide

Room-by-room recycling for kitchens, paper, plastics, and items that belong in the trash instead of the bin.

Scrap metal recycling

How scrap yards grade copper, aluminum, steel, and brass, and how to sort a load before you sell it.

Scrap metal for beginners

How to start collecting scrap metal: magnet tests, tools, safety, and what a first load is worth.

Electronics recycling guide

Where to take e-waste, how to wipe data, and which devices still have scrap value.

12 min read

Data wipe and drop-off

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Sorting

Recycling contamination

What contamination is, what to rinse, and what to keep out of the recycling bin.

12 min read

What to keep out

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Junk car recycling guide

Compare repair, resale, parts, title, and scrap value before accepting a vehicle offer.

Plastics

Plastic recycling guide

Understand resin codes, local acceptance, preparation, and the plastic items that contaminate curbside loads.

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Aluminum

Aluminum recycling guide

Which aluminum items are recyclable, how to prepare them, and when to use curbside pickup versus a scrap yard.

Construction and demolition recycling

How to sort construction and demolition debris, which materials sell, and where facilities take wood, concrete, and metal.

18 min read

Wood, concrete, metal

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Construction

Construction debris planning

Plan construction debris from preconstruction through pickup: material separation, container sizing, placement, and scheduling.

Weighted blanket disposal

Learn when to donate, reuse, recycle, or safely dispose of a weighted blanket.

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Bulky waste

What happens to bulky junk after pickup?

Follow furniture, mattresses, appliances, and electronics from pickup to reuse, recycling, or disposal.

E-bike battery recycling

Where to take an old e-bike or scooter battery, how to prep it, and what California's new battery law changes.

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Seasonal

Pumpkin disposal after Halloween

Compost old jack-o'-lanterns, check whether your yard waste cart takes pumpkins, and find 2026 pumpkin drop-offs.

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Donating

Donation value guide

What used clothes, furniture, and electronics are worth on a tax receipt, from the 2026 Goodwill and Salvation Army price lists.

Read guide

Directory and facility guides

Location-specific guides published from RecycleFind's directory data

Magnolia Landfill Environmental Sustainability Guide

Magnolia Landfill leads Alabama's environmental sustainability through natural gas reclamation, renewable energy production, and innovative waste processing technologies.

Read Magnolia Landfill Environmental Sustainability Guide →