RecycleRight
Know what happens to your waste. Comprehensive guide to recycling, composting, and waste reduction.
Key Statistics
- — Tons of municipal solid waste generated in the US annually (2018)
- — Tons recycled and composted (32.1% rate)
- — Tons sent to landfills (50%)
- — Tons combusted for energy recovery (12%)
- — Annual revenue of US recycling industry
- — Jobs supported by recycling and reuse in the US
Explore
- What to Recycle — Complete material-by-material guide with can/cannot lists and preparation instructions.
- How It's Recycled — Industrial processes: paper pulping, glass melting, aluminum smelting, plastic sorting.
- Plastics Deep Dive — Resin codes #1-7 explained, recycling realities, microplastics, and industry myths.
- E-Waste — Proper disposal of electronics, precious metal recovery, and the global e-waste crisis.
- Composting — Methods, science (C:N ratios), troubleshooting, and the methane connection.
- Reduce & Reuse — The waste hierarchy, practical reduction tips, and the zero-waste movement.
- Global Impact — Recycling rates worldwide, ocean plastic, China's National Sword, and circular economy.
Quick Reference
- Aluminum cans —
- Glass bottles —
- Cardboard —
- Paper —
- #1 PET bottles —
- #2 HDPE jugs —
- Steel cans —
- Plastic bags —
- Styrofoam —
- Pizza boxes (greasy) —
- Batteries —
- Electronics —
- #5 PP containers —
- Bottle caps —
- Shredded paper —
- Cartons —