What Can I Recycle?

Find out what items can be recycled and how to prepare them properly. Browse 13+ categories with 94+ materials.

Can I Recycle This?

Get instant answers about recyclability

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Automotive
Car parts, tires, batteries, fluids, and automotive components that can be recycled or require special disposal.

15 items covered

Car BatteriesMotor OilTiresAntifreeze/CoolantBrake FluidCatalytic Converters+9 more
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Batteries
Battery recycling market growing to $24B by 2032. Lead-acid batteries: 97% recycling rate. Lithium-ion targets: 90% cobalt/nickel, 80% lithium by 2032 (EU). Find battery drop-off locations.

8 items covered

Alkaline BatteriesLithium-Ion BatteriesButton Cell BatteriesRechargeable Batteries (NiMH)Lead-Acid Batteries (Small)Nickel-Cadmium Batteries+2 more
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EV Batteries
Electric vehicle lithium-ion batteries, battery packs, and components. High-value materials requiring specialized recycling facilities.

6 items covered

EV Lithium-Ion BatteriesEV Battery ModulesEV Battery CellsEV Battery Management SystemsEV Battery Thermal ManagementEV Battery Enclosures
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Construction
Building materials like concrete, wood, metal, drywall, and other construction and demolition waste.

13 items covered

ConcreteDrywallWood/LumberAsphalt ShinglesMetal RoofingInsulation+7 more
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Electronics
Americans dump 300-400 million electronics yearly. Less than 20% recycled. E-waste is 2% of trash but 70% of toxic waste. Find e-waste recycling centers and safe disposal methods.

15 items covered

SmartphonesComputersCRT Monitors/TVsFlat Screen TVsPrintersGaming Consoles+9 more
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Metal
Aluminum can recycling fell to 43% (2023) - 61 billion cans landfilled worth $1.2B. Metals are infinitely recyclable. Find scrap metal prices and recycling locations.

11 items covered

Aluminum CansSteel Cans#1 Copper Solid#2 Copper WireAluminum SidingStainless Steel+5 more
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Hazardous
Chemicals, paints, pesticides, and other dangerous materials requiring special disposal methods.

15 items covered

PaintPesticidesHousehold CleanersPool ChemicalsPropane TanksAerosol Cans+9 more
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Household
Common household items like furniture, appliances, textiles, and everyday objects.

20 items covered

LED Light BulbsFluorescent BulbsMattressesFurnitureTextiles/ClothingSmall Appliances+14 more
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Glass
Glass recycling rate is 31-33% in US. 12.3 million tons generated yearly. Glass is infinitely recyclable but color sorting and contamination create challenges. Find bottle return locations.

8 items covered

Glass BottlesGlass JarsWindow GlassLight Bulbs (Incandescent)Drinking GlassesMirrors+2 more
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Organic Waste
Food scraps, yard waste, and other biodegradable materials suitable for composting.

8 items covered

Food ScrapsYard WasteChristmas TreesWood AshManureSawdust+2 more
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Paper
Paper and cardboard achieve 60-74% recycling rates in the US (2024). 125,000 tons of paper recycled daily. Learn accepted paper types and avoid contamination.

10 items covered

CardboardNewspapersOffice PaperMagazinesPhone BooksPaper Bags+4 more
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Plastic
Plastic recycling varies by type (PET, HDPE, PP, etc.). Only 9% of plastic waste gets recycled globally. Learn which plastics your area accepts and proper preparation methods.

10 items covered

PET Bottles (#1)HDPE Containers (#2)PVC Pipes (#3)Plastic Bags (#4)Polypropylene Containers (#5)Polystyrene Foam (#6)+4 more
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Textiles
Americans generate 17 million tons of textile waste yearly - 66% goes to landfills. Only 15% is recycled. Learn how to donate, recycle clothing, and combat fast fashion waste.

10 items covered

Cotton Clothing & T-ShirtsDenim & JeansAthletic Shoes & SneakersBed Linens & TowelsWool Clothing & BlanketsSynthetic Fabrics & Activewear+4 more
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Appliances
Large and small household appliances containing valuable metals and components.

4 items covered

RefrigeratorsWashing MachinesMicrowavesDishwashers
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Lighting
LEDs, CFLs, and fluorescent tubes that require special handling and recycling.

10 items covered

LED BulbsCFL BulbsFluorescent TubesHalogen BulbsIncandescent BulbsHigh-Intensity Discharge (HID) Lamps+4 more
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Wood
Untreated lumber, pallets, and clean wood offcuts that can be reused or recycled.

7 items covered

Hardwood FlooringPlywood & OSBWood PalletsUntreated Scrap WoodEngineered Wood ProductsWood Chips & Sawdust+1 more
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Packaging
Cardboard, cartons, padded mailers, and other packaging materials with varied recyclability.

4 items covered

Corrugated Cardboard BoxesAseptic Cartons (Tetra Pak)Padded Mailers (Paper)Bubble Mailers (Plastic)
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Medical & Pharmaceuticals
Medications, sharps, and medical devices requiring strict, safe disposal or specialized recycling.

21 items covered

Unused MedicationsSharps (Needles & Syringes)IV Bags and TubingProsthetics and Medical ImplantsX-ray FilmsMedical Plastics+15 more
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Yard Waste
Leaves, branches, grass clippings, and other green waste suitable for composting or mulching.

3 items covered

LeavesGrass ClippingsTree Branches
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Industrial/Manufacturing Waste
Manufacturing byproducts, industrial chemicals, machinery, and specialized equipment requiring proper disposal and recycling.

10 items covered

Machining Coolant & Cutting FluidsIndustrial Solvents & DegreasersIndustrial Batteries & Power SystemsCNC Machine Tools & Cutting ToolsIndustrial Plastic Resin WasteIndustrial Adhesives & Sealants+4 more
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Furniture
Household and office furniture including wood, upholstered, and metal pieces that can be donated, reused, or recycled responsibly.

8 items covered

Wooden FurnitureUpholstered FurnitureMattressesMetal FurnitureGlass FurnitureOffice Furniture+2 more
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Sports & Recreation
Athletic equipment, sports gear, exercise equipment, and recreational items that can be recycled, donated, or repurposed through specialized programs.

16 items covered

Athletic Shoes & SneakersSports BallsExercise EquipmentBicycles & Bike PartsCamping & Outdoor GearSports Helmets & Protective Gear+10 more
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Mattress & Bedding
Mattresses, pillows, bed frames, and bedding materials. Contains valuable recyclable components including steel springs, foam, and textiles that require specialized processing.

8 items covered

Memory Foam MattressesInnerspring MattressesPillows & CushionsBed Frames & HeadboardsComforters & DuvetsBed Sheets & Linens+2 more
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Food Waste
America wastes 60 million tons of food yearly (30-40% of supply) - only 5% is composted. Food waste causes 58% of landfill methane. Learn composting, collection programs, and waste reduction.

6 items covered

Fruit & Vegetable ScrapsCoffee Grounds & Tea BagsPlate Scrapings & LeftoversEggshellsBread & Baked GoodsFood-Soiled Paper & Cardboard
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Cryptocurrency & Mining Equipment
Bitcoin mining hardware, GPUs, ASICs, and cryptocurrency-related electronics that contain valuable metals and require specialized e-waste recycling.

3 items covered

ASIC Bitcoin MinersGPU Mining Graphics CardsMining Power Supply Units (PSUs)
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