What Can Be Recycled?: An Ultimate List of 101+ Items
You’ve definitely heard times without number that recycling your used items is eco-friendly and the best way to keep them from damaging natural resources.
But, do you even know what can be recycled in your home?
Well, to help you out, we put together this A to Z guide on 101 commonly used items in your home that can be recycled.
If you are looking for a specific item type then you can use our alphabetic index.
Let’s dive in
A
J
S
B
K
T
C
L
U
D
M
V
E
N
W
F
O
X
G
P
Y
H
Q
Z
I
R
A
Aerosol cans (Hairspray, Paint etc)
They’re usually made from aluminum or steel which can be recycled into new metal products. Once you have exhausted the contents, remove the plastic caps so that they can be recycled with other. Don’t puncture the cans or try to remove the nozzles as this can hurt you. Find out if a drop-off location for aerosol cans exists in your area and if they are classified as household hazardous waste (HHW).
Aluminum: wraps, cans & bottles
If you are uninterested in reusing your aluminum materials, most recycling centers accept would accept them especially the foil wraps. If you’re lucky, you could find a recycling company that wouldn’t mind paying you too.
Antiperspirants and deodorant sticks
Having emptied your antiperspirants and deodorant sticks, check the bodies for the “recycle” symbol. Some recycling companies might not be able to recycle the whole thing but you can always check the bottom of the tubes to confirm the plastic type.
Appliances
If your home appliances are still in working condition, you could consider selling them or donating them to local charities in your area. If they no longer work, it’s advisable to give them up as scrap to recycling companies. Large appliances like air conditioners, refrigerators contain chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) which is not eco-friendly and would require procedures to be followed when disposing or recycling them.
B
Batteries
Recycling your used batteries is a great way of keeping hazardous waste away from the environment. Alkaline batteries can be disposed in the bin but rechargeable batteries or batteries made from lithium contain toxic chemicals and must be recycled. Locate a battery recycling centre near you or make use of online recycling companies.
Beach Balls
Repair your damaged beach balls and reuse if you still want them. If they’re still good and you don’t want them anymore, give them to charity or sell as thrift items. Also, find out if you can recycle them in your area.
Backpacks
You can donate your backpacks to charity, associations that would need them or sell as thrift items.
Buckets
You can donate your plastic buckets to youth organisations or drop them off at recycling centres. If they’re metal buckets, search for recycling locations that accept metals and give them up for recycling.
Books
If the books are in good condition – not missing pages or too dirty- they can be donated to libraries, schools, hospitals or charity or sold either as thrift items or online. Otherwise, get rid of the hard covers and toss the pages in the paper bin or have them given to www.recycleyourtextbooks.com.
C
Candles
Do you know that you can make new candles from your old ones? It’s easy, saves you more money and eco-friendly. Melt the wax gotten from the old candle scraps in a sauce pan and pour into a mould, add a cotton string and you’re good to go.
Carpets
Find out if you can ship back used carpets to the manufacturer but contact them first to know if they’ve recycling programs or simply repurpose them by turning them into doormats or car mats.
Cassette tapes, CDs and DVDs
The plastic parts in cassettes can be removed as well as the magnetic tapes. Give the magnetic tapes to gardeners or make use of them for your home garden (it can be used as twine for plants). Find out if there are recycling centres for CDs and DVDs in your area. You can also donate your tapes, CDs and DVDs to disability centres, give to the library or bookstores or even sell as thrift items.
Cell phones
If you no longer want your phone, donate to charity or do a trade in on Verizon. There are many phone companies that offer recycling services, you can find out if one exists in your area and if they’d accept yours.
Christmas Tree
You can reuse your Christmas tree every Christmas season by simply redecorating but if you don’t want it anymore, you can get rid of it. The good news is that they are biodegradable and can be disposed normally or simply find a collection centre for it in your area.
Christmas lights
You can use recycling programs like Holiday-Leds for your Christmas lights that you want to get rid of.
Clothing
If your clothes are still wearable but you don’t want them anymore, give them to charity, shelters, religious institutions or sell as thrift items. If they’re not wearable anymore, you can still give them to organisations like Goodwill who would have them sold to textile recyclers. Some clothing brands, like Nike, have recycling programs in place for returns of their used products.
Compact fluorescent light-bulbs (CFLs)
CFLs contain mercury hence, you shouldn’t just thrash them. Instead, check with the local hardware store in your area or any other recycling centre available to see if they offer recycling services for CFLs or take advantage of an online recycling network.
Computers
You can return your used computers, keyboards, mouse etc. to the manufacturers to be refurbished and resold or have them donated to charity. If they’re damaged you can still have them donated to Next Step.
Crayons
If your kids don’t want their crayons anymore, you can get them to label them with the corresponding colours and have them sent off to the Crayon Recycle Program where they’d be recycled.
D
Dehumidifiers
Get in touch with the department of public works in your area to find out safe disposal points.
Dishwashers
Follow the same procedures for appliances.
Denim
For your used denim clothing, you could have them donated or check if a denim recycling centre exists in your area else, have them mailed to Blue Jeans Go Green.
Drywall
Find out if your local solid waste area would accept construction materials or check out Habitat for Humanity.
E
Egg shells
They’re very beneficial when added to the compost pile for your garden or find out if a food waste collection scheme exists near you.
Electronics
Find out if there are retailers with trade in options in your area or drop off at your local recycling centre.
Empty cans (cleaning and food products)
For metal cans, they can be recycled as scrap metals. If they’re made of plastic, have them recycled the same way as other plastics.
Eyeglasses
Metal frames can be recycled as with any other scrap metal but plastic frames are non-recyclable. Whether or not your glasses are in good condition, have them donated to someone in need.
F
Fire extinguishers
Find out if your empty cans can be refilled or exchanged for new ones from the fire department in your area.
Food processors
If they still work, have them donated. If damaged, they can be recycled as with appliances.
Food waste
To reduce the amount of food you empty into your bin, add them to your compost pile for your garden. Donate unexpired food to rescue organisations and also find out if a food waste collection centre exists in your area for expired food.
Furniture
If you have large furniture you don’t want anymore, have them upcycled. You can have them refinished if you still want them or just donate them to charity. You can also check if curbside recycling exists in your area.
Formal wear
You can gift your formal wears, like a prom dress, to girls in need.
G
Game Consoles
You can gift out your game consoles if you don’t need them anymore or check if recyclers like e-Stewards are available near you.
Glue Containers
Have them recycled the same way as plastics or sent to Terracycle.
Grass Cuttings
You can spread them back after cutting to condition the soil or add them to your compost pile.
Gift cards
There are some companies which produce biodegradable cards. If yours don’t fall in that category, mail them for recycling to Earthworks System.
Glass
Glass bottles and cups that are no more in use can be taken to collection centres or left for curbside recycling if available in your area.
Grey water
This is the waste water from your hand washed dishes or washing machine. You can simply use the water to water your plants.
H
Hangers
If your hangers are made from plastic, have them donated or sold as thrift items. For metal hangers, simply give them to your local drycleaner or have them recycled as scrap metal.
Household hazardous waste (HHW)
Find out if your area has stipulated days for collecting HHW.
Holiday Cards
You can have these sent to a recycling card program available in your area to be recycled and given a new life.
J
Jars
Recycle your glass jars the same way you recycle your glass after removing the lid, if metal, recycle as scrap metal.
Jugs
Recycle your plastic jugs same way as plastics and the glass jugs should be recycled the same as glass.
Juice/milk boxes.
Find out if the local recycling centre in your area will collect the boxes or make use of Terracycle.
Jewellery
You can have your jewellery recycled for cash, sold as thrift items or donated. If you’ve gem stones, have them taken to antique stores.
Junk mail
Get rid of junk mail same way as you would paper or make use of the PaperKarma app to unsubscribe from mailing lists.
K-L
Keys and nail clippers
You can have them recycled the same way as metals.
Kitchen Utensils
You can have your kitchen utensils, like pots and pans, donated to charity or since they are usually made of steel, they can be as well recycled as scrap metal. For plastic utensils, you can confirm with your local recycling centre if they’re recyclable or are to be trashed.
Kitchen cabinets
Resell your old cabinets, have them donated to charity or for projects by organisations like Habitat for Humanity if they exist in your area.
Knifes
Recycle them as scrap metals or have them donated to charity or sold as thrift items.
Leather accessories
You can have your leather accessories fixed but if you don’t want them anymore, especially your leather shoes, have them donated.
Legos
If your kids have no more use for their Legos, have them donated or find a collector on eBay.
M-N
Mattresses and box strings
Mattresses are made from recyclable materials. Check if a recycling centre for it exists in your area, donate (YES, even with the box strings) to charity or Freecycle it if all else fails.
Magazines
Old magazines and newspapers are made from paper and can be recycled the same way.
Makeup
Some makeup brands, like MAC, offer attractive deals to their consumers when they participate in their recycling programs. Find out if there are counter stores in your areas that’d recycle any makeup brand for you.
Medications
Don’t just indiscriminately thrash or flush your prescriptions down the drain (unless if stated as an option on the pack). Find out if a drug take-back scheme exists in your area. Ensure that you’ve removed any traceable identity on your pill bottles before dumping them in the recycle bin.
Metals
Everything made from metals should be recycled just like any other scrap metal or recycled through available curbside programs in your area.
Microwaves
Carry out the same procedures as with appliances.
Mirrors
You can donate mirrors in good conditions to second-hand stores or confirm if there are recycling centers in your area since it can’t be treated as other glass products due to different mixtures of chemicals.
Newspapers & Notepads
Recycle your old newspapers same way with paper or check if curbside recycling is available in your area.
Nylon
Products made from nylon are thermoplastic and can be recycled. Confirm if there are recycling programs for such in your area.
P-Q
Paint
Find out if a Reuse Room is available in your area where you can drop off old household paint that can be turned into new paint or search for one using PaintCare.
Paper
Everything made from paper is recyclable and are acceptable by many recycling centres.
Pens and markers
Have them donated to non-profits or shipped to Terracycle.
Phone books
Ensure personal info has been removed before checking if a recycling centre exists in your area.
Post-its
Recycle post-its just the same way you’d go about recycling your used papers.
Pizza boxes
They can be recycled alongside with corrugated cardboard paper as long as they’re not soiled.
Plastics
All plastic products are to be recycled according to their numbers. You can find out if the recycling centre in your area accepts all plastic types or follow numbers.
Quiche pans
Even with a plastic handle, they can be recycled as with scrap metals.
Quilts
As long as they’re machine washable, you can have them donated to shelters for humans or animals.
R-T
Rags
Take advantage of Donate Stuff to get rid of your damaged fabrics or any similar programs.
Rubber products
If you have any products made from rubber that you’ve no use for anymore, you can find out if a rubber recycling centre is available near you or contact companies like Rubber Recycle to know where you can have your products recycled.
Rubber bands
To keep your rubber bands reusable, you can store them in your refrigerator. You can also donate them to a kids’ school in your area.
Rugs
Whether they’re made of cotton or wool, if you’ve a home garden, you can have them used as mulch else, find out if a recycling centre for rugs exists in your area.
Shoes
For sneakers, Nike’s Reuse-a-Shoe program accepts old athletic shoes or sneakers of any brand and recycles. If you have a Nike store in your area, first confirm if they’re accepting before going to drop them off. If your athletic shoes are in good shape, have them donated and don’t forget to give out your other shoes too.
Shopping bags
Recycle paper shopping bags with paper and return plastic bags to grocery stores if your local centre doesn’t accept plastic bags.
Smoke detectors
If there aren’t collection centres for yours, contact the manufacturer.
Sport equipment
Trade to Play It Again Sports or have them recycled.
Soaps and sponges
You can reuse your soaps by getting creative with it or donating to non-profits. Sponges made from natural materials last longer and can be used in compost pile as they’re biodegradable. Synthetic sponges might not be recyclable but can be used to serve another purpose.
Take-outs
Chinese take-outs that are not soiled can be recycled alongside with cardboards or used in making compost if stained. For plastic take-outs, confirm if they’re acceptable in your local plastic recycling centre.
Toothpaste tubes and toothbrushes
Toothbrushes made from recycled materials, like in the case of Recycline, can be sent back to them for recycling. Toothpaste tubes made from aluminium can be recycled and the ones made from plastic can be sent to Terracycle.
Tinfoil
Recycle the same way as with aluminium.
Toys
You can donate your kids’ toys to non-profits or check for recycling centres in your area.
Trash
Ensure you’ve carefully separated from your trash, items that are for recycling or for donations.
U-W
Umbrellas
Plastic umbrellas can be donated if still in good condition as they’re not recyclable. For umbrellas made from metal, the metal can be recycled as a scrap metal after the fabric and handle has been removed.
Used pillows
Due to hygienic reasons, they’re better donated to animal shelters.
Used clothing
Check for recycling centres in your area or donate to animal shelters.
Used towels and sheets
They can be donated or recycled same as in clothing.
Vinyl
Containers made from vinyl material can be identified with the “3” symbol. Confirm if there is a vinyl accepting recycling centre in your area. For your vinyl albums or records, you can recycle the cardboard sleeves. For the albums, themselves, you can refer to the music store in your area if they’d buy them from you.
Wine corks
Find out if there are recycling centres in your area for wine corks or connect with ReCork’s recycling program and give new life to your wine corks.
Water bottles
Find out if the plastic recycling centre in your area can accept them or a curbside program.
Water filters
Terracycle can be mailed your water filters for recycling purposes. If any part of the water filter has plastic, they should be separated and recycled separately.
Wood
Anything made from wood in your home can be recycled or changed to serve another purpose. Confirm if you’ve recycling centres for your wooden materials or have them given to charity if in reasonable condition.
X-Z
X-box
Find out if a Microsoft recycling centre exists in your area or recycle the same way as you would Game consoles.
Yoga Mats
Check for recycling or collection centres for yoga mats in your area or make use of RecycleYourMat.com.
Yard Waste
You can use the decomposable parts of your yard waste and add to your compost pile. Confirm how the yard waste collection process in your area works.
Yoghurt cups
Find out if the recycling centers in your area would accept them.
Ziploc Bags
Once they’re cleaned, they can be recycled alongside plastic shopping bags.