ARC Raiders Recycling Guide — What to Recycle vs Sell vs Keep
Recycle vs Sell vs Keep — Quick Reference
| Item Category | Action | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial junk (metal scraps, brackets) | Recycle | Converts to common components needed for almost all crafting |
| Wire scraps | Recycle | Yields electrical components; crafting demand is high |
| Spring cushions | Recycle | Yields mechanical components; high crafting value per unit |
| Consumables (food, medicine) | Keep or Sell | Use what you need; sell excess for Credits |
| Duplicate weapons | Sell | Unless you can recycle into better components than sell value |
| Rare crafting components | Keep | Always — these are bottleneck items for high-tier crafting |
| Common ammo excess | Sell | Credits are often more useful than excess ammo stacks |
| Mid-tier gear (found, not crafted) | Recycle or Sell | Compare component output vs sell price per item |
How the Recycler Works at Stella Montis
The Recycler is a station in Stella Montis that converts items from your stash into crafting components. Unlike selling to a trader, recycling doesn't give you Credits directly — instead it produces raw materials (metal fragments, electrical components, mechanical parts, etc.) that feed into crafting recipes. The fundamental question for every item in your stash is whether its recycling output is more useful to you than the Credits you'd earn selling it.
Recycling output is not a simple 1:1 conversion. Each item category has defined component yields, and some items produce surprisingly high quantities of valuable components relative to their weight and sell value. Industrial junk items are the classic example: their sell value at traders is low, but their recycling output in metal fragments and basic components directly substitutes for materials you'd otherwise have to farm specifically. Recycling junk effectively turns dead weight into crafting fuel.
The recycler processes items instantly with no time cost. You don't need to wait — feed it items, collect components, and move on. This immediacy means there's no reason to delay recycling decisions: make the call as soon as you're back at Stella Montis, before items accumulate and your stash becomes cluttered with unprocessed junk.
Top Items to Always Recycle
Industrial junk is the category most consistently worth recycling over selling. Metal brackets, broken mechanical parts, worn components, and similar items have minimal trader sell values but recycle into common components that every crafting recipe uses extensively. The ratio of component output to the effort of farming these items is favorable — you'll gather them incidentally in any industrial zone run, and recycling them turns what would be a Credits-generating chore into direct crafting progress.
Wire scraps deserve special attention. Wire-based items recycle into electrical components, which are consistently in demand for weapon, armor, and utility crafting at multiple tiers. Early-game players often make the mistake of selling wire scraps for a small Credits gain, then spending more Credits buying electrical components from traders later. Cutting out the trader middleman by recycling wires directly saves Credits and ensures your crafting material supply stays topped up.
Spring cushions are one of the most valuable recycle candidates relative to their appearance. These seemingly mundane items convert into mechanical components — a material that's required for precision weapon parts and mid-tier armor crafting in significant quantities. Their sell price to traders is low, making recycling the obvious choice whenever you find them. Train yourself to recycle spring cushions automatically every time you return from a raid.
Sell vs Recycle Decision Framework
| Item Type | Sell Value | Recycle Output Value | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial Junk | Low | Medium (common components) | Recycle |
| Wire Scraps | Low-Medium | Medium-High (electrical components) | Recycle |
| Spring Cushions | Low | Medium (mechanical components) | Recycle |
| Found Weapons (low tier) | Medium | Low (limited component output) | Sell |
| Found Weapons (mid tier) | Medium-High | Medium (better components) | Compare first |
| Consumables (excess) | Medium | Low (poor recycle ratio) | Sell |
| Rare Components | High | Extremely High (direct crafting use) | Keep |
Verdict: Recycle industrial junk, wire scraps, and spring cushions without exception. Sell consumables and low-tier found weapons. For mid-tier found gear, compare the component output of recycling against the sell Credits and decide based on what you need more urgently.
When to Sell Instead of Recycle
Selling to traders makes the most sense when you need Credits urgently — for example, to buy a specific blueprint, purchase trader-exclusive items, or fund a replacement loadout after a bad raid. Consumable items like excess food, basic tools, and items with poor recycle ratios are natural sell candidates. Low-tier found weapons almost always sell for more immediate value than their recycling output provides, especially early game when Credits are tight.
Duplicate crafted weapons and armor you've upgraded past are a judgment call. If the item's crafting components are something you need in quantity right now, recycle. If you're flush with crafting materials but short on Credits, sell. Never feel locked into one answer — the correct choice depends on your current resource balance, not a universal rule. Check both values (estimated sell price vs component needs) before committing.
Building a Recycling Habit
- Return from raid → open stash → pull all industrial junk, wire scraps, spring cushions to recycler immediately
- Process the recycler batch → collect all components into your crafting material storage
- Review remaining items: consumables → keep what you need, sell excess
- Review found weapons and armor: compare recycle value vs sell value based on current material needs
- Keep all rare and uncommon components regardless — they are always bottleneck materials
- Check your crafting queue: do you now have enough materials to craft something you queued? Start that craft
- Sell remaining items for Credits → check trader stock with fresh Credits
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to recycle or sell in ARC Raiders overall?
It depends on your current needs. Early game, recycling industrial junk and wire scraps is almost always better than selling because crafting materials are your biggest bottleneck. Later, when crafting materials are plentiful, selling becomes more attractive for Credits to spend on traders and blueprints.
Does recycling give back all the materials used to craft an item?
No. Recycling crafted items returns a portion of the materials used to make them, typically around 50 to 75 percent depending on the item category. You won't fully recoup your crafting investment, but it's better than losing materials entirely when you no longer need the item.
Where is the recycler in Stella Montis?
The Recycler is a dedicated station in Stella Montis, typically located near the crafting workshop area. Explore Stella Montis fully in your first session to memorize its location — it's one of the most frequently used stations in the game.
Can you recycle items found in raids that you haven't brought to Stella Montis yet?
You can only recycle items that are in your Stella Montis stash. Items must be successfully extracted and transferred to your stash before they can be recycled. You cannot recycle items directly from a raid in progress.
What are spring cushions used for in crafting?
Spring cushions recycle into mechanical components that are used in precision weapon parts, certain armor components, and mid-tier crafting recipes. They appear somewhat frequently in industrial loot zones and should be recycled rather than sold in virtually all situations.
Sources & verification
Continue this guide path
- ›ARC Raiders Recycling vs Selling — Which Items to Keep, Recycle, or SellEvery item you bring back from a raid creates a decision: keep it, recycle it for components, or sell it for Credits. This guide gives you the framework and item-by-item breakdown to make the right call every time.
- ›ARC Raiders Crafting System Explained — Materials, Blueprints & UpgradesThe crafting system is the backbone of progression in ARC Raiders. Learn how crafting stations work, how material tiers are structured, how to unlock blueprints, and how to progress from basic gear to endgame equipment.
- ›ARC Raiders Currency Guide — Credits, Seeds & the Stella Montis EconomyARC Raiders has two distinct currencies that serve very different roles in the Stella Montis economy. Learn how Credits and Seeds are earned, what each is best spent on, and how to balance selling versus recycling for long-term economic health.
- ›ARC Raiders Trader Guide — Who to Buy From & Daily Stock TipsStella Montis is home to a network of traders with rotating stock and specialized inventories. Learn which vendors to prioritize, how Credits and Seeds work, and how to maximize your daily trader visits.
- ›ARC Raiders Looting Strategy — How to Fill Your Bag Fast & SmartEfficient looting is what separates consistent Raiders from players who struggle to progress. Learn how to triage loot, understand container types, manage inventory space, and route through zones for maximum value per raid.