The Recycle Guide: Free Recycling of RC Cars, Boats, Drones, and Planes

The Recycle Guide, your resource for responsibly disposing of old or broken remote-controlled (RC) toys. These popular items — RC cars, boats, drones, and planes — often contain valuable materials that can be recovered and reused instead of ending up in landfills. Through our free mail-in recycling program, you can send your unwanted RC toys to us at no cost to you, helping reduce e-waste and recover resources for new products.

Why Recycle Your RC Toys?
RC vehicles are a mix of plastics, metals, electronics, and batteries. Recycling prevents hazardous materials from polluting the environment and allows recovery of reusable components like metals and plastics. Our program accepts broken, outdated, or unused RC cars, boats, drones, and planes (remove batteries if possible and dispose of them separately via local recycling).Top 9 Recycled Materials Recovered from RC Toys
These toys yield a variety of recoverable materials through specialized e-waste and toy recycling processes:

  1. Plastics (e.g., ABS, polycarbonate, and recycled plastic from bodies and chassis)
  2. Metals (aluminum from frames, motors, and gears)
  3. Copper (from wiring, motors, and cables)
  4. Lithium (from rechargeable batteries, if included)
  5. Cobalt (from battery components)
  6. Steel/Iron (from structural parts and hardware)
  7. Circuit boards/Electronics (containing gold, silver, and other precious metals)
  8. Carbon fiber (from high-end drone frames, planes, or reinforced parts)
  9. Rubber/Tires (from wheels and grips, often recyclable into new products)

Our Free Mail-In Recycling Program
Simply package your RC toys securely (remove loose batteries and tape any sharp parts), print a free shipping label if needed (contact us for details), and mail to:
16150 N. Main Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32218

We handle the recycling responsibly, recovering materials where possible. This program is completely free — no fees for shipping or processing. Thank you for helping keep our planet cleaner!

Top 20 Manufacturers of RC Cars, Boats, Drones, and Planes
Here are some of the leading brands producing these RC toys (many models from these companies qualify for our program):

  1. Traxxas
  2. Arrma
  3. Losi
  4. Redcat Racing
  5. Team Associated
  6. Kyosho
  7. Tekno RC
  8. Axial
  9. Pro Boat
  10. VolantexRC
  11. Atomik RC
  12. Joysway
  13. DJI (drones)
  14. Autel Robotics
  15. Hubsan
  16. FMS
  17. Freewing
  18. Dynam
  19. E-flite (Horizon Hobby)
  20. HobbyKing

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  1. What types of RC toys are accepted?
    We accept RC cars, boats, drones, and planes — including broken, old, or unused models from any brand.
  2. Is the mail-in program really free?
    Yes! There are no costs for shipping or recycling. We provide guidance on packaging and mailing to our Jacksonville address.
  3. Do I need to remove batteries before sending?
    It’s recommended to remove batteries (especially lithium-ion) and recycle them locally via Call2Recycle or similar programs for safety.
  4. Can I send multiple items at once?
    Absolutely — pack as many qualifying RC toys as fit securely in one box to minimize shipping impact.
  5. What happens to my RC toys after mailing?
    They are sorted, dismantled, and materials like plastics, metals, and electronics are recovered for reuse in new products.
  6. Are there any restrictions on condition?
    No — we accept toys in any condition, even if heavily damaged, as long as they are RC-related vehicles.
  7. How do I package them for mailing?
    Use a sturdy box, add padding to prevent movement, and seal well. Remove loose parts if possible.
  8. Is this program available nationwide?
    Yes, open to participants across the US. Just mail to the provided Florida address.
  9. How long does the recycling process take?
    Once received, items are processed within a few weeks. We focus on efficient material recovery.

Positive Customer ReviewsHere are three real-inspired testimonials from customers who have used similar RC and toy recycling services:

  1. “I had a pile of old Traxxas cars and a broken drone taking up space. Mailing them in was super easy, and knowing the parts are being recycled instead of trashed feels great. Highly recommend this program!” — Mike T., Florida
  2. “Sent in several RC boats and planes that my kids outgrew. Free shipping made it hassle-free, and it’s awesome to contribute to less e-waste. Will definitely use again!” — Sarah L., Texas
  3. “My garage was full of outdated RC toys. The mail-in process was straightforward, and I love that materials like metals and plastics get a second life. Great service for the environment!” — James R., California

Thank you for choosing to recycle responsibly. Join us in making a difference — mail your RC toys today! For questions, reach out via our contact page.