According to a 2025 study conducted by WM Recycling Report, 77% of Americans report that they recycle. But the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows a different story. Only 32.1% of discarded material is actually recycled. An article from California Management Review may point to the answer: most people just aren’t sure what is or isn’t recyclable. While policies may change depending on your state, here’s a list of items you might not have known are recyclable:
- Mattress: A lot of mattress components can be reused in different products. The foam and cloth can live a second life as insulation and carpet padding, the springs can be repurposed as car parts or building materials, and the wood frames can be turned into shipping pallets or mulch. Earth 911 can help you locate a recycling center near you that will take your old mattresses. For those who live in California, Connecticut, Rhode Island, or Oregon, the government-backed Bye Bye Mattress program streamlines the process.
- Toothbrushes and Toothpaste: If you have a Crest or Oral-B toothbrush, you can participate in their Recycle On Us They accept used plastic toothbrushes, toothbrush head refills, toothpaste tubes, mouthwash containers, floss containers, and floss picks. You can request a free shipping label from their website, and your old toothbrushes will be recycled into a multitude of products, including park benches and clothes. Colgate offers a similar recycling program and accepts all brands of toothbrushes or empty oral care packaging. You can find your local drop-off location through their site.
- Carpet: Carpet is often made with synthetic fibers like nylon and polyester, which break down over time and leak harmful chemicals into the environment. Most local municipality recycling centers will take carpet, but if you’re installing new flooring, ask whether the retailer will take your old carpet. Several companies, such as Antron and J + J Flooring, have reclamation programs to ensure that used carpet doesn’t end up in a landfill.
- Car Batteries: Car batteries contain lead and acid, which can cause water and soil pollution, as well as long-term health issues. You can recycle car batteries through municipality recycling centers, but metal recycling centers and car parts shops like the AutoZone will pay you to take the car batteries off your hands.
- Nike Shoes: Nike offers their Recycling + Donation program, which allows you to drop off your old Nike shoes or apparel at any Nike store. The shoes are then recycled or donated to those in need.
- Packing Peanuts and Styrofoam Cups: Polystyrene, the material used in packing peanut and Styrofoam cups, breaks down into small pieces over time, which are harmful for wildlife. Polystyrene cannot be recycled at a local recycling center and must be sent to a centralized plant. The Dart Container Corporation, the world’s largest manufacturer of foam cups and containers, accepts the return of Dart brand polystyrene products (as well as Dart paper and plastic items). These are melted down and turned into polystyrene pellets, which can be used to make more polystyrene items.
- HP Ink Cartridges: Similar to Nike’s recycling program, HP allows you to drop off your old HP or Samsung ink cartridges at Staples, Best Buy, Office Depot/Max, or Walmart for recycling. Their website also offers free shipping labels, boxes, and envelopes if you prefer to mail back your cartridges, as well as the option to schedule a pickup if you have more than 1,000 ink cartridges.
- Batteries: Any batteries labelled with the word “lithium” (lithium single-use or some coin-shaped batteries) should never be put in the trash. Lithium batteries can cause fires and must be properly dealt with by a recycling company. Many local districts hold collection events for batteries and some battery manufacturers, including The Battery Network and Ridwell have mail-in programs. Some Home Depot locations have The Battery Network bins for collection in store.
Recycling provides many benefits to our environment, but did you know it also benefits our economy as well? In a single year, recycling accounted for 681,000 jobs, $37.8 billion in wages, and $5.5 billion in tax revenues.
Many companies offer easy (and free) ways to recycle your old items. With just a little effort, you can help reduce landfill waste, protect wildlife, and support the health of our environment.