What Can I Recycle?
Find out what items can be recycled and how to prepare them properly, then find a center near you.
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Can I Recycle This?
Get instant answers about recyclability
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Automotive
Car parts, tires, lead-acid batteries, fluids, and related components. Auto-parts stores take batteries and used oil in many places; scrap tires go to retailers or processors (USTMA: about 79% of end-of-life tires reached beneficial markets in 2023); keep antifreeze and brake fluid off oil tanks.
15 items covered
Car BatteriesMotor OilTiresAntifreeze/CoolantBrake FluidCatalytic Converters+9 more
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Batteries
Household and rechargeable batteries: alkaline, lithium-ion, button cells, NiMH, NiCd, lithium primary, and small sealed lead-acid. Drop-off rules depend on chemistry. Not for EV traction or car starter batteries.
8 items covered
Alkaline BatteriesLithium-Ion BatteriesButton Cell BatteriesNickel-Metal Hydride Batteries (NiMH)Lead-Acid Batteries (Small)Nickel-Cadmium Batteries (NiCd)+2 more
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EV Batteries
High-voltage EV and hybrid traction packs, modules, cells, and related parts. Dealer or licensed dismantler only. Not trash, curbside, or retail battery bins.
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 from construction and demolition: concrete, asphalt pavement, wood, drywall, brick, roofing, and related C&D debris. Sort by type and haul to a C&D yard, crusher, or specialty program. Not curbside.
14 items covered
ConcreteDrywallWood/LumberAsphalt ShinglesMetal RoofingInsulation+8 more
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Electronics
Phones, computers, TVs, printers, and other e-waste. Wipe data, then use retail drop-off, manufacturer take-back, or a certified recycler. Not curbside.
16 items covered
SmartphonesComputersCRT Monitors/TVsFlat Screen TVsPrintersGaming Consoles+10 more
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Metal
Metal is one of the few recyclable materials that pays you back, and it can be recycled endlessly without losing quality. Actual recycling rates vary a lot by metal, though: steel runs an estimated 70-80%, while aluminum cans lag at about 43% (2023).
11 items covered
Aluminum CansSteel Cans#1 Copper Solid#2 Copper WireAluminum SidingStainless Steel+5 more
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Hazardous
Paint, pesticides, solvents, pool chemicals, and pressurized cylinders. Household waste is exempt from federal hazardous waste rules, so your county sets the answer, and it varies more than any other category.
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
Bottles and jars only. Glass is endlessly recyclable in theory, but EPA measured 31.3 percent of containers recycled, and a growing number of US programs have dropped glass from curbside entirely.
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 recycles at 60-64% and cardboard at 69-74% in the US (2024, AF&PA) - about 125,000 tons of paper and 90,000 tons of cardboard recovered every day. Grease on a pizza box and a plastic envelope window are rarely the problem; wet, soaked paper is.
10 items covered
CardboardNewspapersOffice PaperMagazinesPhone BooksPaper Bags+4 more
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Plastic
US plastic recycling is 8.7% overall (EPA 2018). PET (#1) bottles reach 30.2% (NAPCOR 2024) and HDPE natural bottles 29.3% (EPA 2018). Empty bottles, leave caps on, and send bags to store drop-off, not curbside.
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
EPA 2018: the US generated 17.03 million tons of textiles, with 14.7% recycled, about 66% landfilled, and about 19% combusted. Textiles are not curbside. Donate clean, dry, wearable items; use textile bins for worn pieces; trash wet or moldy ones.
10 items covered
Cotton Clothing & T-ShirtsDenim & JeansAthletic Shoes & SneakersBed Linens & TowelsWool Clothing & BlanketsSynthetic Fabrics & Activewear+4 more
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Appliances
Large household appliances recycled for steel, copper, and motors. Fridges and freezers also need refrigerant recovery under Clean Air Act Section 608 rules. None of these go in weekly curbside bins.
4 items covered
RefrigeratorsWashing MachinesMicrowavesDishwashers
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Lighting
Bulbs, tubes, string lights, and exit fixtures. Mercury lamps need recycling drop-off; plain glass bulbs usually go in the trash; LEDs can be trashed or recycled as e-waste.
10 items covered
LED BulbsCFL BulbsFluorescent TubesHalogen BulbsIncandescent BulbsHigh-Intensity Discharge (HID) Lamps+4 more
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Wood
EPA 2018: about 18.1 million tons of wood in US MSW, with 3.1 million tons (17.1%) recycled, mostly pallets chipped for mulch or bedding. C&D wood is separate: 40.8 million tons generated, 29.6 million landfilled. Clean untreated wood can be reused or ground; treated and painted wood cannot.
7 items covered
Hardwood FlooringPlywood & OSBWood PalletsUntreated Scrap WoodEngineered Wood ProductsWood Chips & Sawdust+1 more
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Packaging
Cardboard, cartons, and mailers with very different recycling odds. Corrugated cardboard recycles at 69-74% (2024, AF&PA); food and beverage cartons reach 61% of US households but only about 20% actually get recycled; plastic film mailers need a store drop-off, not curbside.
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 safe, state-regulated 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, grass clippings, small branches, and garden trimmings. Americans generate about 35 million tons of yard trimmings a year; roughly two-thirds are composted or mulched (EPA 2018). Compost or green-waste programs, not curbside recycling carts.
3 items covered
LeavesGrass ClippingsTree Branches
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Industrial/Manufacturing Waste
Manufacturing byproducts, process chemicals, and production scrap. Written for businesses, where RCRA applies in full, so the answers here are the opposite of the household guidance elsewhere on this site.
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 in wood, upholstery, metal, and engineered panel. A reuse category rather than a recycling one: EPA measured furniture recycling at 0.3 percent.
8 items covered
Wooden FurnitureUpholstered FurnitureMattressesMetal FurnitureGlass FurnitureOffice Furniture+2 more
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Sports & Recreation
Most sports gear is donated, sold, or traded, not material-recycled. Sell or donate usable equipment (Play It Again Sports, thrift, youth programs). Real specialty paths include RecycleBalls for tennis balls, BoatUS bins for fishing line, and scrap yards for metal weights and frames.
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. Mattresses need a specialized recycler for the steel, foam, and fabric inside; most other bedding runs through textile donation and recycling instead.
8 items covered
Memory Foam MattressesInnerspring MattressesPillows & CushionsBed Frames & HeadboardsComforters & DuvetsBed Sheets & Linens+2 more
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Food Waste
Kitchen scraps, plate waste, and food-soiled paper. Produce, coffee grounds, eggshells, and plain bread compost in any backyard pile. Meat and dairy need a municipal program, and pizza boxes now go in ordinary recycling.
6 items covered
Fruit & Vegetable ScrapsCoffee Grounds & Tea BagsPlate Scrapings & LeftoversEggshellsBread & Baked GoodsFood-Soiled Paper & Cardboard
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Cryptocurrency & Mining Equipment
ASIC Bitcoin miners, mining GPUs, and high-wattage power supplies. Treat them as e-waste. Wipe storage, then recycle or resell.
3 items covered
ASIC Bitcoin MinersGPU Mining Graphics CardsMining Power Supply Units (PSUs)
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Pet & Animal Supplies
Pet food containers, animal bedding, toys, accessories, and veterinary supplies that can be recycled, composted, or donated through specialized pet supply programs.
5 items covered
Pet Food Containers & BagsPet ToysPet Beds & BlanketsPet Carriers & CratesCollars, Leashes & Harnesses
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Why Recycling Matters, in Two Charts
Recycling does two things at once: it skips the energy cost of making materials from scratch, and it keeps waste out of landfills where it can linger for centuries.
Tools & Calculators
Recycling Volume to Weight Estimator
Estimate the weight of common recyclables to visualize your impact.
Business Recycling ROI Calculator
Estimate the financial ROI of your recycling program.
Personal Carbon Footprint Calculator
See your environmental impact from recycling.
Waste Diversion Rate Calculator
Track the percentage of waste diverted from landfill.
Personal Recycling Savings Calculator
Estimate how much you can save by recycling.
Scrap Metal Value Calculator
Estimate the value of your scrap metals before selling.
Working With Local Contractors
Large recycling jobs (driveway removal, patio demo, or a kitchen tear-out) usually start with the contractor doing the work. A good contractor will route concrete, brick, and clean fill to the right recycling facility instead of a landfill. In the DMV area, for example, Maryland hardscape and concrete contractor Site Doctor handles concrete recycling on hardscape projects in Silver Spring and surrounding Montgomery County neighborhoods. If you're hiring out a project, ask up front how the demolition material will be handled. It's an easy way to keep tons of debris out of landfills.