Can You Recycle Pots & Pans?
No
Not curbside — scrap metal yards take them
Why
Cookware is heavy-gauge metal with handles and coatings that curbside programs are not set up to process. Scrap metal recyclers take it all.
How to dispose of pots & pans
- Donate usable cookware
- Take dead pots and pans to a scrap metal drop-off
- Nonstick coating is fine for scrap — it burns off in processing
Greener option
Some cookware brands offer trade-in discounts on old pans.
♻️ Recycling rules vary by city and hauler — when in doubt, check your local program. You can look up your area on our trash & recycling schedules page.