What Materials Can Be Recycled?

Not sure what items around your house are suitable for recycling? This page will cover all materials that an informed layman and consumer should be aware of regarding most commonly known recyclable materials. We will also discuss some materials that are not widely known to be recyclable. There should be special attention given to materials that are poorly understood and/or hard to recycle.

What Materials Can Be Recycled / Paper

Most kinds of paper can be recycled.

Materials That Can Recycled

Prices of virgin paper pulp have been increasing in recent years. As a result more plants capable of handling and reprocessing waste paper are being built.

An important thing to note about the recycling process of paper is collecting large volumes of clean, uncontaminated, well sorted, and dry paper.

Paper products have to be labeled meaningfully so that consumers can be aware of what they are buying in a paper product.

The term “Recycled Paper” can be manufactured from 100 percent true recycled paper to paper containing just 1 percent remanufactured roll ends.
What Materials Can Be Recycled / Steel, Glass, Aluminum Cans, and Foil

These recyclables are often easy to recognize.

recycled steel firepit

Most people don’t have any trouble sorting these materials properly. Glass, steel, copper, aluminum cans, and other metals are easily recognizable and quite easy to recycle.

The fire pit depicted was made from recycled steel.

However, glass bottles must not be mixed with any other type of glass like light bulbs, Pyrex plates, glass tableware, auto glass, and window glass.

Ceramics contaminate glass and are very difficult to sort out. The most valuable glass waste is clear glass. Mixed color glass is almost worthless. Broken glass is also difficult to sort.

Aluminum cans are easily recycled and they have only to be cleaned a little bit to save water. Aluminum cans should be cleaned just enough to prevent odors and it is no longer necessary to remove labels for processing. The high heat used in glass and metal reprocessing is enough to take care of the problem of contamination.

What Materials Can Be Recycled / Plastic

recycled plastic grocery bag

The variety of plastics (plastic bottles, clamshell packaging, PET, etc.) that can be recycled is getting wider and with a certain amount of care much plastic waste can be recycled.

The major problem regarding plastics recycling is that different types of plastics must not be mixed for recycling yet it is virtually impossible to tell one type from another merely by looking at them or even by touching them.

-The grocery bag to the left was manufactured with recycled plastic.

A small amount of the wrong type of plastic can ruin a whole batch being reprocessed.

The plastic industry has tried to solve this problem by developing a set of Cryptic Markers. These can be seen on the bottom of plastic containers.

These markers indicate only the type of plastic from which that particular container is made from.

Types 1 and 2 are the most widely accepted in container form. Type 4 is accepted sometimes even when it is in bag form. Type 7 has virtually no recycling potential. Place only the indicated type inside the bin of your local collection agency.

What Materials Can Be Recycled / Sources

For more information on recycling certain materials near you just input the phrase, recycling ‘whatever material’ in ‘your area’ in your search engine search bar. Or go to earth911.com.

For more information on other types of materials that can be recycled and about why recycling is important follow these links:

Continue reading here: Recycling Metals / Why Bother?

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Readers' Questions

  • lara
    Can metal bowls be recycled?
    2 months ago
  • Yes, metal bowls can generally be recycled. Metal is a highly recyclable material and can be melted down and repurposed into new products. It is recommended to check with your local recycling center or municipality for specific guidelines on how to recycle metal bowls in your area.
    • hamid
      What items can be made from recycled paper, plastic,glass, aluminum and tiin?
      4 months ago
    • Recycled paper: 1. Newspaper 2. Notebooks 3. Toilet paper 4. Paper towels 5. Cardboard boxes 6. Packaging materials 7. Egg cartons 8. Wrapping paper 9. Paper bags 10. Insulation materials Recycled plastic: 1. Plastic bottles 2. Clothing and textile products 3. Plastic lumber for construction 4. Plastic furniture and outdoor decking 5. Garden pots and planters 6. Fencing materials 7. Picnic tables and benches 8. Plastic trays and containers 9. Plastic toys 10. Automotive parts and accessories Recycled glass: 1. Glass containers (e.g. bottles, jars) 2. Glassware (e.g. cups, bowls, plates) 3. Glass countertops 4. Glass mosaics and art pieces 5. Fiberglass insulation 6. Glass bricks for construction 7. Glass beads and jewelry 8. Glass tiles for flooring and walls 9. Glass-fiber reinforced materials 10. Glass blocks for windows and partitions Recycled aluminum: 1. Aluminum cans 2. Aluminum foil 3. Bicycle frames 4. Automotive parts (e.g. engine components, wheels) 5. Construction materials (e.g. window frames, siding) 6. Aircraft parts 7. Food packaging (e.g. trays, containers) 8. Gutters and downspouts 9. Aluminum wire 10. Radiators and heat exchangers Recycled tin:
      1. Tin cans
      2. Pipes and tubing
      3. Roofing materials
      4. Tin containers and boxes
      5. Electrical wiring
      6. HVAC ductwork
      7. Automotive parts and components
      8. Tin-based alloys for soldering and packaging
      9. Tin toys and decorative items
      10. Tin foil and packaging materials
      • Molly
        What are the website materials can be recycled?
        5 months ago
      • There are various website materials that can be recycled, including:
        1. Paper: Websites often contain printed materials such as brochures, flyers, and documents that can be recycled.
        2. Cardboard: Packaging materials used for shipping website products can be recycled, including cardboard boxes, packaging inserts, and shipping labels.
        3. Electronics: Websites may dispose of old computers, laptops, monitors, and other electronic devices. These electronic items can be recycled to recover valuable materials such as metals and plastics.
        4. Printer cartridges: Many websites use printers for various purposes, and the ink or toner cartridges used in these printers can be recycled.
        5. Plastic: Websites often use plastic materials for packaging, such as bubble wrap, air pillows, and plastic envelopes. These materials can be recycled depending on the type of plastic and the recycling facilities available.
        6. Metal: Websites may also have metal materials that can be recycled, such as used aluminum cans, metal packaging, or broken equipment.
        7. It's important to check with local recycling facilities or waste management companies for specific guidelines on what materials they accept for recycling.
        • Anna-Liisa
          What are 4 matierials that can be recycled?
          6 months ago
          1. Paper - This includes newspapers, magazines, cardboard, and office paper. These materials can be recycled and used to produce new paper products.
          2. Plastic - Many types of plastic can be recycled, including beverage bottles, food containers, and packaging materials. These plastics are collected, sorted, and processed to create new plastic products.
          3. Glass - Glass containers, such as bottles and jars, can be recycled. The glass is crushed, melted, and molded into new glass products, reducing the need for virgin glass production.
          4. Aluminum - Aluminum cans, foil, and other aluminum packaging materials can be recycled. The recycled aluminum is processed and used to create new aluminum products, saving energy and resources compared to mining and refining new aluminum ore.
          • aatifa
            What meterial can be recycling?
            7 months ago
          • There are many different materials that can be recycled. Some common examples include:
            1. Paper and cardboard
            2. Plastic bottles and containers
            3. Aluminum cans and foil
            4. Glass bottles and jars
            5. Steel and tin cans
            6. Electronics and electrical equipment
            7. Batteries
            8. Ink cartridges
            9. Textiles and clothing
            10. Wood and construction materials
            11. These materials can be processed and reused to create new products, reducing the need for virgin materials and minimizing environmental impact.
            • alyssa smith
              What materials can be recyclied?
              10 months ago
            • Materials that can be recycled include paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, aluminum, steel, textiles, and electronics.
              • ARSENIO
                What matenails can be recycled?
                12 months ago
              • Many metal nails can be recycled, including steel nails, copper nails, aluminum nails, brass nails, and iron nails.
                • sarah abel
                  Which matereals can be recucled?
                  1 year ago
                • Common materials that can be recycled include: -Paper -Glass -Plastics -Aluminum -Steel -Textiles -Electronics -Batteries -Yard waste -Food waste/compost
                  • Ahti
                    What types of materials can be recycled?
                    1 year ago
                  • -Paper -Plastics -Glass -Aluminum -Textiles -Electronics -Batteries -Organic materials -Wood -Metal -Construction and demolition debris
                    • askalu
                      What materials can be recycled?
                      1 year ago
                      1. Paper and cardboard
                      2. Glass
                      3. Plastic bottles and containers
                      4. Aluminum cans
                      5. Steel and tin cans
                      6. Styrofoam
                      7. Electronics
                      8. Batteries
                      9. Printer cartridges
                      10. Textiles