[ADDENDUM: It dawned on me after I posted this--and after people commented on the post--that this information must be skewed somehow. How is it possible that paper and plastic aren't in the top 10? Well, that's because they are picked up curbside AND because this report was about most searched items for recycling, not the most recycled items. So my apologies if the information below was misleading.]

Earth 911 recently came out with a report about the 10 most frequently recycled items in 2009. I have to say that the list doesn’t surprise me, except for the fact that paper is nowhere on this list. What’s up with that?

Here are those top 10 items. When available, I’ve also included information on how you can make money on recycling those goods or more information on where to go to recycle them. When it doubt use the Earth 911 website:

1.      Computers (see if office supply stores like Office Max or Staples are offering money off the purchase of a new computer if you bring your old one in to be recycled. In absence of that at least find out if, when you buy a new computer, the store/company will recycle your old one for free as Dell does.)
2.      Batteries (you can recycle cell phone batteries via drop boxes in Verizon stores)
3.      Televisions (as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, you may be able to qualify for a tax rebate when buying an energy-efficient TV. Check this Energy Star website to locate rebates in your state.)
4.      Paint
5.      Aluminum Cans
6.      Used Motor Oil
7.      CFLs (I know stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s take these for free for recycling. Too bad they don’t offer you a coupon, too.)
8.      Glass
9.      Fluorescent Lamps
10.    Christmas Trees

Interestingly that same report include the 10 states that were most active in recycling. Glad to see that my state, Pennsylvania, is on the list. Here it is in full:

1. California
2. Texas
3. New York
4. Illinois
5. Florida
6. Pennsylvania
7. Georgia
8. Ohio
9. Michigan
10. Virginia

Given this information what do you think needs to happen to get more people to recycle and to recycle more? I’m thinking that financial incentives, like those that Recyclebank offers, is the way to go. (Full disclosure: I have an agreement with Recyclebank that allows the company to reprint my blog postings on their website. I do not receive any money for this, though.)