Recycling

But what does all this have to do with you? Well, recycling is a simple way that you, as a consumer, can help out the environment, create a profitable market for recycled goods and help preserve natural resources from being depleted. So…let’s get involved!

How?

Use Our Search

In our recycling database, you can find more than 100,000 recycling locations across the country. With information provided by local governments, industry insiders, organizations and everyday consumers, you can recycle hundreds of products, from packing peanuts to computers.

1. What and Where – Simply enter the item you have for recycling and your location.
2. Get Results, Fast - Earth911.com will show you the closest place to take your stuff.
3. Close The Loop – Recycle it, and keep it out of the landfill.

Learn the Basics

Earth911.com is your one-stop-shop for everything you need to know about reducing your impact, reusing what you already have and recycling your trash. Get involved by checking in for daily news, reading weekly feature stories, surfing product channels and opting into our weekly emails.

1. Check out daily news section, and subscribe to the RSS feed!
2. Dive into the issues with our weekly feature stories (they’re right there on the homepage).
3. Get to know your products! From Household to Plastics, Paper and Electronics, our resource sections offer the best ways to get the facts and know-how you need about recycling certain products.
4. Need help getting your recycling project off the ground? Check out our How To’s for some step-by-step instructions.

Why?

Recycling reduces our waste sent to landfills. Also, making new products out of recycled ones reduces the amount of energy needed in production. The U.S. EPA estimates that 75 percent of our waste is recyclable, which goes well beyond what you toss in your recycling bin at home or at school.

Recycling serves two key purposes:

1. It keeps valuable materials, such as aluminum and paper, out of landfills so this material can be reused in other forms and not wasted.
2. It prevents hazardous materials and chemicals, such as lead and mercury, from ending up in landfills, where they can contaminate soil and leach into our drinking water.

Because of hazardous risks associated with our trash, it’s important to recycle your products – including those you may not initially think of recycling. This includes batteries, electronics, motor oil, paint and any product that has “Caution” or “Warning” on the label.