OpenRecycleMap
About OpenRecycleMap
A free, open map of places that accept waste for recycling — from street containers to recycling centres. It is built on OpenStreetMap and kept up to date by people like you.
- 589,938
- recycling points
- 171
- countries
- 309
- cities and towns
- 18
- waste types
- 34
- languages
How it works
Open data from OpenStreetMap
Every point on the map is an object in OpenStreetMap, the free map of the world edited by millions of volunteers. There is no closed database behind this site: what you see here is available to everyone.
Updated within minutes
The site follows the minute-by-minute change feed of OpenStreetMap. When someone adds or fixes a recycling point anywhere in the world, it shows up here shortly after — whatever editor they used.
Anyone can add or fix a point
Sign in with an OpenStreetMap account, put a pin and choose what is accepted. Your edit goes straight to OpenStreetMap under your name and helps every app and map built on its data.
Our principles
The data is shared and stays
Every point is stored in OpenStreetMap, not in the site’s own database. If OpenRecycleMap ever closes or changes its terms, not a single point disappears: the data stays with everyone who uses it.
Open rules
How recycling points are tagged is decided by the OpenStreetMap community in its open wiki, not by us. Each waste type page shows which tags it is built from — any point can be checked and fixed.
For the whole world
The project is not tied to one country: the map covers the whole world and the interface is translated into dozens of languages. An edit made in one city helps its neighbours and every map and app that uses OpenStreetMap data.
How to read the map
- Accepted waste types are known. Open the point to see the list, the address and opening hours.
- Waste types are not specified yet. That is about four points in ten — if you know what such a container takes, add it: it takes a minute.
- A house is an organisation: a recycling centre, shop or yard with staff. Its colour works like the dots: green if we know what it accepts.
- When zoomed out, the map shows a grid: each dot marks an area where recycling points exist. Zoom in to see the points themselves.
How you can help
Add a missing point
Know a container or a collection point that is not on the map? Add it from the map page.
Fill in a gray point
Say what is accepted — plastic, glass, batteries, clothes. This is the most useful edit of all.
Check the details
Opening hours, fees, the operator, whether the place still exists. Small fixes are what make the map trustworthy.
For OpenStreetMap mappers
An object is a recycling point if it has the tag amenity=recycling. What it accepts is described with recycling:*=yes tags, and recycling_type=container or recycling_type=centre tells a street container from a staffed site. Every point has a link to open it in JOSM, and every waste type page lists the tags it is built from.
Tag:amenity=recycling on the OpenStreetMap wiki ↗Open data and licence
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL). You may use it in your own projects, commercial ones included, as long as you credit OpenStreetMap and share improvements to the database under the same licence.
OpenStreetMap copyright and licence ↗Questions and answers
Is it free?
Yes. The map, the catalog and the data are free and need no registration. An account is only needed to add or edit points.
Why can't I find a place I know?
Nobody has added it to OpenStreetMap yet. Add it yourself from the map — it will appear on the site within minutes.
Why do I need an OpenStreetMap account to add a point?
Because the point is saved to OpenStreetMap itself, under your name, and not to a private database of ours. The same account works in every OpenStreetMap editor and app.
How up to date is the information?
Changes made in OpenStreetMap reach the site within minutes. How accurate a particular point is depends on the people who mapped it — if something is wrong, fix it.
Can I use the data in my app or research?
Yes, under the ODbL licence with attribution to OpenStreetMap contributors. The data can be downloaded directly from OpenStreetMap or from regional extracts such as Geofabrik.
Contact and discussion
- Found a bug on the site or have an idea? Write to us: Feedback →
- Discuss the project with the OpenStreetMap community: topic on the OpenStreetMap forum — link coming after launch