"top 10 most recycled items"
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Corrugated cardboard (boxes) tops the list, with 32 million tons recycled in 2018—the single largest material stream in the U.S.
Quick Facts
- Paper & cardboard together make up ~67 % of all recycled municipal solid waste.
- Aluminum cans retain up to 95 % of their original energy when recycled.
- Electronics and batteries are fast‑growing streams due to stricter e‑waste regulations.
AI Consensus
Models Agreed
- Corrugated cardboard is the single most‑recycled material by tonnage.
- Paper, aluminum cans, plastic bottles, glass, and steel consistently appear in every model’s top‑10 list.
- Electronics, batteries, tires, and clothing/textiles are all recognized as major recyclable streams.
Points of Debate
- Some models list “other metals” (copper, iron) separately from steel, while others treat steel as the sole metal category.
- A few sources separate newspapers and mixed paper as distinct items, whereas most combine them under “paper”.
- One response includes “other plastics” (HDPE, rigid plastics) as a tenth item, whereas the majority list clothing/textiles instead.
Top 10 Most Recycled Items in the United States
| Rank | Item | Why it’s heavily recycled |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Corrugated boxes / cardboard | 32.1 million tons recycled in 2018 – the largest single material stream3. |
| 2 | Paper (newspapers, mixed nondurable paper, office paper) | Paper and paperboard account for ~67 % of total recycled tonnage36. |
| 3 | Aluminum cans | High market value and up to 95 % energy savings when recycled14. |
| 4 | Plastic bottles (PET & HDPE) | PET bottles are the most‑recycled plastic; HDPE jugs also collected in large volumes16. |
| 5 | Glass containers | Infinitely recyclable without loss of quality; a staple of curb‑side programs12. |
| 6 | Steel (tin cans, scrap steel) | Ferrous metal is magnetic, easy to separate, and has a high recovery rate46. |
| 7 | Electronics (e‑waste) | Phones, computers, TVs contain valuable metals; dedicated programs boost recovery2. |
| 8 | Batteries | Lead‑acid, alkaline, and lithium‑ion batteries are collected to prevent hazardous leaks and recover metals2. |
| 9 | Tires | Reclaimed into rubberized asphalt, mulch, and other products, reducing landfill volume2. |
| 10 | Clothing & textiles | Repurposed into insulation, rags, or new fibers; a growing “green” sector2. |
Key take‑aways
- Paper & cardboard dominate by weight, followed closely by metals (aluminum, steel) and PET bottles.
- Glass, electronics, batteries, tires, and textiles round out the list, reflecting both material abundance and market demand for recycled feedstock.
- Recycling rates differ by item (e.g., aluminum >95 % recycled, PET ≈29 % recycled), but all ten categories benefit from established collection infrastructure.
Sources: 1–10 as cited inline.
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