America Recycles Day 2026: Sunday, Nov. 15, and What Goes in the Bin

America Recycles Day is Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says: “On America Recycles Day (November 15), EPA recognizes the importance and impact of recycling.” Below are EPA’s rules for common items, three local events from official pages and a free one-page checklist (all checked Nov. 4, 2026).

When is America Recycles Day in 2026 and after?

The date is Nov. 15 every year, so only the weekday changes. The weekdays below are our calculation.

Year	Nov. 15 falls on
2026	Sunday
2027	Monday
2028	Wednesday
2029	Thursday
2030	Friday
2031	Saturday

EPA’s page repeats the date on its Reduce, Reuse, Recycle page, updated Sept. 3, 2026. Mark it on the November 2026 printable calendar. If you are planning the rest of the holiday season, see trash pickup changes for Thanksgiving 2026.

What does EPA say about the day and the 2030 goal?

EPA says it “encourages every American to contribute by recycling right, not only on America Recycles Day, but all year long.” It asks people to “help us reach our current National Recycling Goal to increase the U.S. recycling rate to 50 percent by 2030.”

EPA’s most recent national figure is from 2018: “The recycling rate (including composting) was 32.1 percent in 2018, down from 34.7 percent in 2015.” Keep America Beautiful (KAB) runs the day’s campaign. KAB describes it as “the only nationally recognized day that’s all about recycling” and says “This November, America Recycles Day becomes America Recycles Month.” It asks people to “complete a daily challenge, share using #AmericaRecycles, and tag @KeepAmericaBeautiful.”

Bin or not: what EPA says about common items

EPA says “most” community programs accept many of these items, so your city’s own list decides. Use this as a starting point.

Item	EPA’s rule	EPA page
Glass	“Most curbside recycling programs accept different glass colors and types mixed together.”	How Do I Recycle Common Recyclables
Paper	“Most community or office recycling programs accept paper and paper products.”	How Do I Recycle Common Recyclables
Food containers	“‘Spatula-clean’ is clean enough to recycle!”	How Do I Recycle Common Recyclables
Pizza box	“Make sure to remove any food scraps from the box and flatten it before placing it in the bin.”	How Do I Recycle Common Recyclables
Plastic bags, wraps, films	“These items are recyclable, but they cannot go in your household recycling bin.”	How Do I Recycle Common Recyclables
Lithium-ion batteries	Lithium-ion batteries and devices containing them should not go in household garbage or recycling bins.	Used Lithium-Ion Batteries
Electronics	“Remove any batteries from your electronics; they may need to be recycled separately.”	Electronics Donation and Recycling

EPA adds that donating or recycling consumer electronics “conserves our natural resources and avoids air and water pollution.” The agency’s battery page covers devices that contain lithium-ion batteries as well.

Which America Recycles Day events are confirmed?

We found these on official local pages. Check each page before you go.

Where	When	Details
Solid Waste Authority (SWA) of Palm Beach County, Florida	Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.	“SWA Celebrates America Recycles Day” at the SWA Education Center, 6751 N. Jog Road, West Palm Beach
City of Diamond Bar, California	Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.	“American Recycles Day” event in the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) parking lot, 21865 Copley Drive
Prince William County, Virginia	Nov. 10, 16, 17, 18 and 20, 2026	Events for America Recycles Month, with a pledge open through Nov. 20 at mwcog.org/recyclesday, per the county’s Oct. 20 news release

We did not find a 2026 event hosted by EPA itself.

How can you use the recycling checklist?

Our free printable puts the rules above on one page with tick boxes: what goes in the household bin, what stays out, and the dates. Pin it near the bin and check your city’s list for anything the sheet does not cover. For another November observance, see World Kindness Day on Friday, Nov. 13, and for what to do with a holiday tree later, see Christmas tree recycling by city.