All Recyclable Items for Benches in Arc Raiders — Turn Trash into Treasure and Build Stronger Gear

Surviving in the dangerous world of Arc Raiders is hard enough. But if you really want to get ahead and build a base that nothing can break into, you need to learn how to be smart with your resources. The "Benches" in your base—like the Crafting Bench, Weapon Bench, and Tool Bench—are the heart of your operation. They let you upgrade your gear, make weapons, and strengthen your defenses. But to make these benches work, you need materials.

Many new players ignore the random "junk" they find on the ground. But experienced survivors know that this junk is actually a source of power. Almost everything you pick up can eventually be broken down and recycled at a bench. This article will explain exactly which items you can recycle and how to use them wisely.

What Is "Bench Recycling" and Why Is It So Important?

Simply put, the various workstations in your base all come with a built-in "shredder" function. You can take extra items you've brought back from exploring—things you don't need right now—and put them into the recycling menu at a bench. A few seconds later, they'll be broken down into basic building materials like metal, cables, electronic parts, or plastic.

Think of it like your recycling bin at home. You throw in old newspapers and plastic bottles you don't need, and they get turned into something new and useful. In Arc Raiders, this process is crucial for a few reasons:

1. Saves Space: Your storage isn't endless. Recycling items you don't need frees up valuable space for more important things.

2. Makes You Self-Sufficient: When you're in a pinch and need a specific basic material to fix your armor or make ammo—but don't have time for another dangerous trip outside—recycling useless loot from your backpack is the fastest solution.

3. Turns Junk into Gold: That piece of "trash" you picked up might be the key to making a high-level item. Learning to recognize all recyclable items for benches arc raiders is a basic skill every survivor must learn.

Weapons and Tools — Outdated Gear, Broken Down into Parts

When you explore, you'll definitely pick up all kinds of weapons and tools. Maybe they're worse than what you already have, or you've found something better. Never just drop them! Bring them back, and at a Weapon or Tool Bench, you can take them apart.

• Melee Weapons: Think of the basic "Crowbar" or a "Stun Baton" you find later. If you don't need them anymore, breaking them down usually gets you metal and plastic. A crowbar gives you common metal, while a more advanced weapon might give you rarer alloys.

• Low-Tier Guns: Those white or green pistols and rifles you pick up are your most common recycling items. Taking them apart gives you mechanical parts, metal tubes, and springs. These are essential for making ammo and fixing advanced guns.

• Damaged Tools: Items like a "Portable Welder" or "Cutting Tool" are great to recycle if their durability is gone or you have a better one. Breaking them down usually gives you electronic parts and rare metals.

Key Point: Never leave useless weapons in your backpack. Bring them all back to base and turn them into raw materials for your workbenches.

Armor and Equipment — Broken Protection, Reshaped into Shields

Armor is your second skin. But when you find better armor, or pick up helmets and chest plates with low durability, their job is done. Remember, for recycling, they still have plenty of value.

• Helmets and Face Shields: These pieces usually have complex sensors and wiring inside. Recycling them often gives you electronic parts, cables, and lightweight plastic. These are the materials you need for making advanced scopes and tactical helmets.

• Chest Plates and Leg Guards: As the gear that protects your body's core, they contain a lot of metal and composite materials. Taking them apart is a quick way to get "High-Strength Alloy" and "Ceramic Plates"—exactly what you need to upgrade your base defenses.

• Backpacks: If you find a bigger backpack and want to replace your old one, don't forget to recycle the old one. It provides plenty of synthetic fibers and nylon, which are key ingredients for making medical kits and grapple hook ammo.

Key Point: Don't look down on scrap metal and worn-out gear. An old piece of armor can be the very thing that helps build your stronghold. Understanding all recyclable items for benches arc raiders is truly understanding how to survive.

E-Waste and Everyday Junk — The Hidden Treasures

This is the category players overlook the most. When you're searching through houses, factories, and ruins on the map, you'll find a lot of seemingly useless "trash." But to a recycling bench, they're a goldmine.

• Electronics: Think "Damaged Circuit Boards," "Burnt-out CPUs," "Old Cell Phones." These look worthless, but breaking them down gets you lots of "Copper Wire," "Gold Fingers" (trace amounts of gold), and "Precision Electronic Components." These are core materials for making advanced detection devices and auto-turrets.

• Household Items: "Frying Pans," "Metal Kettles," "Stainless Steel Bowls." These can be recycled into basic "Iron Ingots" and "Aluminum." Don't look down on these basics—you need them to repair your base walls and build traps.

• Industrial Scraps: "Rusty Gears," "Broken Drive Shafts," "Empty Fuel Cans." These heavy industrial wastes are a steady source of "Steel Blocks," "Springs," and "High-Energy Fuel." Fuel cans especially, when broken down, give you leftover fuel that can be used to make fire traps.

Key Point: When you're exploring the ruins, keep your eyes open. Every seemingly useless piece of junk can become a valuable resource on your bench. Your trash can become your enemy's nightmare.

Medical Supplies and Consumables — Even Empty Bottles Are Useful

After you use a medkit or other consumable, you're often left with an empty container. While the game might not let you pick up an "empty bottle" directly, the low-level medical items you'll never use are perfect for recycling.

• Low-Tier Medkits: Like "Rusty Bandages" or "Expired Painkillers." Their healing effect is tiny, so instead of letting them take up backpack space, recycle them. They can provide "Medical Gauze" and "Chemical Reagents."

• Empty Cans and Containers: After using an "Energy Drink" or "Stimulant," your backpack will have the empty can. When you're in a safe spot, remember to recycle these too. They give you a tiny bit of plastic and aluminum, and it all adds up.

• Flare Guns and Flares: If you've picked up a lot, or just don't want to use them for fighting, they can be broken down into "Gunpowder" and "Magnesium Powder." These are essential for making explosive ammo.

Golden Rules for Efficient Recycling

Now you know what to recycle, let's talk about how to do it better. Following these simple tips will make your survival much smoother.

1. Store First, Recycle Later: When you first get back to base, don't rush to recycle everything. Put all your loot into your storage first. Then, when you need a specific material to craft something, go to your storage and see which useless items you can break down to get it. This way, you avoid accidentally recycling something you might need for a future mission.

2. Upgrade Your Benches: The higher the level of your bench, the better its recycling efficiency. A low-level bench might only give you 1 piece of metal from an item. A high-level bench might give you 2 or 3, plus a rare extra byproduct. So, prioritizing your bench upgrades is an investment that pays off big time.

3. Choose What to Carry Wisely: When exploring, backpack space is limited. You need to quickly judge which "junk" is worth carrying back. Generally, bigger items aren't always more valuable. A tiny "CPU" might be worth much more than a bulky "Old Tire" that takes up 6 slots. In the early game, focus on picking up items that look "precision-made" or electronic.

4. Make Recycling a Habit: Get into the habit of recycling every time you're back at base, make it as natural as breathing. When organizing your backpack, ask yourself: "Will I definitely use this item in the next 30 minutes?" If the answer is no, then throw it into the recycling bench without hesitation. This habit will make sure you never run out of basic materials.

Trash Is Just a Resource in the Wrong Place

In the harsh world of Arc Raiders, nothing is truly useless. Remember, the "Broken Gear" you carelessly throw away today might be the very thing you need to fix your auto-turret tomorrow. Mastering the knowledge of all recyclable items for benches arc raiders isn't just about collecting resources. It's a survival philosophy—learning to use everything available, and turning the enemy's world into your own personal factory.

We hope this guide helps you go further and survive longer in Arc Raiders. Now, grab your backpack and go "treasure hunting" in the ruins. And remember, everything you bring back, no matter how useless it looks, shines like gold when it's placed on your recycling bench.