Frequently asked questions about recycling

This page answers the questions people ask most often about household recycling in the United States: what belongs in the bin, what needs a special drop-off, and how to check the rules where you live. The Recycle Guide is an education site. Local programs differ, so treat this as a starting point and confirm details with your city, county, or hauler.

If you are new to the topic, start with Why Recycle?, How to Recycle?, and Where Can I Recycle?. For a material-by-material list, see Recyclable Materials.

The short answers

What is recycling?

Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away and turning them into new products. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency explains the basics, including how to recycle common household items, at epa.gov/recycle.

What can I put in my curbside bin?

It depends on your city, county, or private hauler. Many programs accept clean paper, cardboard, metal cans, and certain plastic bottles and jugs, but lists differ, and some communities do not accept glass at the curb. Use your local collection calendar or the Earth911 recycling search to check before you toss something in.

Why does my hauler talk about “contamination”?

Contamination means non-recyclable or dirty items mixed into a recycling load — for example, food-soiled paper, plastic bags tangled in the machinery, or household chemicals. Those items can spoil a batch of otherwise good material or damage sorting equipment. Empty, rinse, and follow the local list. See our Recycling Rules & Etiquette page for everyday habits that help.

Can I recycle electronics in my curbside bin?

Usually no. Computers, TVs, phones, and many batteries need a separate drop-off or mail-back program because they contain both valuable and hazardous materials. Start with our Electronic Recycling guide and the nationwide location search, and review EPA guidance on electronics and batteries.

What should I do with batteries and paint?

Do not put lithium-ion or most rechargeable batteries in curbside recycling or the trash — they can start fires in collection trucks and facilities. Many communities offer household hazardous waste (HHW) days or year-round drop-offs for paint, solvents, and certain batteries. Call2Recycle and retailers also run battery take-back programs. See EPA’s household hazardous waste page and our Paint & Oil and Batteries guides.

Is recycling actually used, or does it all go to the landfill?

Collected material is sorted, sold, and used as feedstock when it is clean enough and there is a market for it. Some material is rejected because it is contaminated or not accepted in that program. The honest step you can take is to recycle only what your local program lists and to keep it empty and clean. EPA publishes national figures on how much municipal solid waste is recycled, composted, combusted, or landfilled.

How much waste does the United States recycle?

EPA’s latest national Facts and Figures are for calendar year 2018. That year the United States generated 292.4 million tons of municipal solid waste, or 4.9 pounds per person per day. About 69 million tons were recycled and 25 million tons were composted — a combined 32.1 percent recycling and composting rate. About 11.8 percent was combusted with energy recovery, and about 50 percent was landfilled. EPA has not published a newer national total as of this writing. See the EPA National Overview.

Where can I find a drop-off center near me?

Search Earth911 by product and ZIP code, check your city or county solid-waste website, and ask your hauler. For electronics, you can also use The Recycle Guide’s Locations search. Our Where Can I Recycle? page explains the difference between a recycling center, a transfer station, a landfill, and a dump.

What are the three Rs?

Reduce, reuse, and recycle — in that order. Reducing what you buy and reusing what you already have usually saves more energy and material than recycling alone. EPA’s reducing and reusing basics page and our How to Recycle guide walk through practical examples.

Who runs The Recycle Guide, and is this a sales site?

The Recycle Guide is a free education site created to help people understand recycling. It is inspired and funded by John D. Arwood as a give-back; the About page tells that story. This FAQ is here to explain recycling, not to sell a dumpster. If you have a correction or a question, use the Contact page.

Can teachers copy these pages for a class?

Yes — the Educational Resources, Teacher Resources, Recycling in Schools, and Recycling Activities pages are meant to be used in classrooms and at home. Please credit The Recycle Guide and check the original EPA or state sources before treating any figure as current.

Sources and further reading

Figures and definitions in this guide come from the public sources below. Rules still vary by city and hauler, so confirm locally before you set something out.

Still have a question? Contact The Recycle Guide or browse Recycle News for recent articles.