What Can We Recycle? Surprising Things You Can But Probably Aren’t

Updated September 2025

Many of us know to toss our aluminum cans, glass bottles, and cardboard in the recycling bin, but that’s often the extent of our recycling knowledge. You might be surprised to learn that you can recycle a wide range of other items. 

So, what can we recycle? We’re glad you asked! Follow along to discover all the surprising things you can recycle.

What Should You Recycle at Home?

When exploring what to recycle at home, it’s essential to understand that not everything that’s recyclable can be put in a recycling bin and placed on the curbside. Sometimes, recycling the items may require dropping them off or sending them to a special recycling center or program. 

 

One of the Top Things You Can Recycle

E-waste items, also known as electronic waste, are among the top things you can recycle safely once you have removed the batteries. Some examples include the following:

• TVs

• Computers

• Printers

• Hard drives

• Digital cameras

• Smartphones

• Small household appliances, like blenders, toasters, and coffeemakers 

• Large household appliances, such as fridges, ovens, and dishwashers

E-waste is an example of items that cannot be placed in bins for curbside pickup. Therefore, it’s essential to understand how to dispose of e-waste properly, which usually involves dropping it off at your city’s waste collection facility or hiring a full-service junk removal team to handle it for you. 

 

What Items Can Be Recycled at Drop-Offs

A recycling drop-off center is a location where you can hand over items for recycling. 

Now, what items can be recycled at drop-off locations? 

As you are now aware, many drop-off locations recycle e-waste. However, they also collect other items not typically included in curbside recycling programs, such as used motor oil, car filters, light bulbs, and paint. Many locations will also collect the usual recyclable items, including paper, plastic, glass, cardboard, and aluminum. 

What exactly you can drop off may depend on the specific location, so we encourage you to inquire in advance. 

 

Surprising Stuff You Can Recycle Instead of Tossing

Believe it or not, you can recycle clothing, too! It’s estimated that 95% of clothing and textiles are recyclable. This includes used clothing, bed sheets, towels, footwear, and more. 

The following are some viable ways of recycling and repurposing your unwanted clothing and textiles:

• Donate them to a thrift store or local charity organizations

• Determine if your city has a textile recycling program

• Look into mail-in programs, such as Recycling Retold

• Check out retailer-specific recycling programs, like those run by The North Face, Patagonia, Levi’s, and H&M

• See if your local recycling center accepts unwanted clothing 

 

Things That Can Be Recycled from Your Deliveries

Next, let’s discuss what we can recycle from the packaging of items you receive in the mail. 

Typically, curbside recycling programs will collect these items:

• Cardboard boxes 

• Paper packing material 

• Certain types of gift wrap 

As for other items, you may still be able to recycle them. For example, some recycling drop-off centers will accept bubble wrap, while participating shipping stores may reuse your Styrofoam packing peanuts in future shipments. 

 

What Can We Recycle from Our Desks?

If you have a desk at home or in your office, you likely have a few items tucked away in drawers that can also be recycled. However, like other items we’ve addressed, you may need to donate the supplies to specified drop-off locations or special office supply recycling programs. 

Some stuff you can recycle from your desk includes:

• Paper

• Manilla folders

• Print cartridges 

• Computers, printers, scanners, laptops, and keyboards (among other e-waste)

 

Things You Can Recycle in the Bathroom

What should you recycle from your bathroom? There are several items you can place in the curbside recycling bin, such as:

• Liquid soap bottles (place the dispenser in the regular trash)

• Cleaning product bottles (place the trigger spray in with the trash)

• Toilet paper rolls 

• Cardboard packaging from your toothpaste

 

Seasonal Stuff You Can Recycle

Lastly, what can we recycle from our seasonal bins? 

• Glass and cardboard ornaments 

• Christmas trees, garland, and wreaths

• String lights 

• Gift wrap and holiday cards (without metal or glitter designs) 

While all of these items are recyclable, not all curbside pickup programs will accept them, so you’ll need to explore alternative ways of recycling them. For instance, recycling programs often have designated days for collecting Christmas trees, while certain hardware stores, such as Lowe’s, offer recycling stations for old string lights. 

 

Ready to Rethink Recycling? Here's How to Get Started Today

There are numerous details to consider when it comes to what you should recycle, from determining proper battery disposal to navigating the removal of e-waste. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of sorting through and recycling your items, contact The Junkluggers. 

The Junkluggers specialize in removing and recycling your unwanted items. We offer convenient same-day junk removal, addressing your needs quickly and efficiently. 

Ready to get started? Book now!