RUST Recycler Guide

The RUST Recycler, a Player’s Guide

Every seasoned RUST player knows the importance and value of recyclers. These unique machines are scattered throughout the game but, sadly, are not player craftable. Due to this fact, and since there is a finite collection of recyclers, players must be strategic with their farming and also be able to defend it. With our RUST Recycler Guide, we will shed light on the deeper game mechanics surrounding the recycler, why they are so important to a successful start to the wipe, and how to find them on the game map.

This guide covers the following:

• What are recyclers?
• Why are recyclers important?
• How to use a recycler?
• Where to find recyclers?
• What items give the best scrap?

What are recyclers in RUST?

Recyclers are a special device in RUST in which a user can insert up to 6 stacks of items at a time to be recycled and broken down into their constituent parts. Once turned on, the recycler will slowly convert the inserted items into their “recycled” components. Not all items can recycle, or break down into other components and will be left untouched in the input hopper. Most items, however, will break down into some or most of the components that are used to craft them at a rate of about 50% of the amount needed to craft them. Items that will break down into components that are of a single quantity will have a roughly 50% chance to yield that component.

When running the recycler, it does take some time for the device to break down items into their components. If the player has added stacks of items, it will take that many times longer to process. Keep a watchful eye out when using the recycler, though, since using it does not make you immune to PVP. Other players will likely be drawn to your location due to the audible sound of the recycler running and the promise of free loot.

It is not uncommon for players to camp in nearby cover and watch for players on recycling runs as an easy means to acquire resources. Knowing this fact, players should take precautions to keep themselves out of view while waiting on the recycler to do its thing by hiding, closing doors, etc.

Why are recyclers important?

Knowing where to find recyclers is a big part of resource farming in RUST. Recyclers are important for farming resources quickly in the early game when every minute counts. Building up a secure starter base and learning blueprints is a costly endeavor in terms of resources, time, and scrap, which is why knowing where to find recyclers can help players maximize the results of their farming efforts. Some items that will be gained from boxes and barrels in roadside junkpiles will break down into additional scrap. This makes the scrap farm more profitable. Similarly, these same items can break down into metal fragments, wood, stone, cloth, high-quality metal, and other useful components, like gears or pipes, that will help accelerate early game progress.

In addition to maximizing the resource take-home of the scrap or resource farm run, recycling plays an important role in inventory management. As a player on a farm run, you will encounter more diversity of loot than you have available inventory spaces. Frequent recycling reduces loot down to a more manageable stack of resources that will reduce the amount of loot that you will have to triage and leave behind because you didn’t have inventory available to hold it all.

How to use a recycler?

Recyclers are containers with an input and an output. Players can input up to 6 different items at a time to be queued for recycling. Stackable items are able to be inserted as well and will only take up a single slot inside of the recycler.

When you are ready to start the recycler, press the large green “Turn On” button to begin the recycling process. The recycler will slowly start churning out resources over time, much like a furnace or refinery. Unlike these smelters, though, the recycler needs no fuel in order to run because it runs on monument electricity (presumably).

Recycled components will appear in a specially reserved output space that can contain up to 6 different item stacks. As soon as components show up in the output containers, you can and should move them to your inventory. The recycler will shut off if it runs out of input items to recycle or if there are no free output spaces to put new components, just like a furnace would.

Keep in mind that should you leave the recycler unattended with items inside, other players can run up to it and take them. The container is only locked down while a player is actively using it.

Where to find recyclers?

Recyclers are found within or near monuments around the RUST game map. We’ve created a listing of maps of these monuments with highlighted locations to make the recyclers easier for you to find.

Monument Recycler Locations

RUST Abandoned Supermarket Recycler Location

This recycler is easily accessible on the backside of the supermarket. Follow the outside of the building until you’ve reached a chain-link fence attached to the back wall. The recycler is inside. There is a door to get through the fence and there is also a hole in the fencing itself that a player can crouch-walk through.

RUST Airfield Recycler Locations

The Airfield monument houses two recyclers. The first can be found inside Hangar 2, along the left wall behind a group of crates. The second recycler can be found in the large building opposite the tarmac from the hangars. When facing the building, head to the left side and you’ll come upon the large doors of a garage. The recycler will be in this room along a wall and next to a repair bench and across from an oil refinery.

RUST Arctic Research Base Recycler Location

The Arctic Research Base monument houses one recycler, located directly under the large satellite station. If you position yourself in the center of the monument, you will be able to see the large white satellite. Located outside on the ground level, you will find the recycler.

RUST Bandit Camp Recycler Location

The recyclers at the Bandit Camp are located inside of the giant dredge. Enter the dredge and proceed to the stairs to the second level. Once on the second floor, enter the Casino room. There will be a door to the left of the Big Wheel–go through this door and the recycler should be straight ahead and to the right of a steering wheel. A second recycler can be found in the same room along the wall of the door just past the large poker table.

RUST Giant Excavator Pit Recycler Location

The large excavator recycler can be found in the main control room. If you hop down off of the platform on the opposite side of the engine, you will see the recycler beneath the platform next to one of the false doors.

RUST Large Harbor Recycler Location

The recycler at the Large Harbor can be found next to the Shipping building, which is found in the lower right corner of the screenshot above. The yard of the shipping building is mostly enclosed by chainlink fence and crumbling stone walls with plenty of spaces for hopping over. The recycler can be found against the wall that faces the water.

RUST Oxum’s Gas Station Recycler Location

The Oxum’s Gas Station recycler can be found inside of the garage. If you are standing at the front of the gas station under the pump carport, the garage will be the section on the right side with a partially-open garage door. Duck under this door and you will be face-to-face with a car lift. The recycler will be to the left of the lift along the wall next to a large pile of spare tires.

RUST Small Harbor Recycler Location

This recycler can be found on the concrete pier that is occupied by the large, blue cranes. Follow the pier all the way to the water. When you come upon a chain link fence that opens to a concrete staircase, take the stairs down and take a sharp right to follow the wall with the stairs. The recycler is hiding right behind the wall of the staircase.

RUST Junkyard Recycler Location

With the introduction of the HDRP art backport in the World Revamp update, the Junk Yard monument received a huge overhaul that completely changed the recycler’s location within the monument. To get up to the new recycler location, locate a large ramp to the right of the southern entrance in the screenshot above. Follow the ramp up to what looks like a small office space that sits atop the overpass that overlooks the yard. Keep running through this area to the next ramp that will lead up to a covered space. In this covered space you will find a hobo barrel and the recycler right next to the entrance of the covered space.

RUST Launch Site Recycler Location

The Launch Site recycler can be found close to the 3 cylinders on the warehouse side of the monument. In front of these cylinders are two warehouses that are facing each other. The recycler is nestled under the overhang opposite of a blue container.

RUST Lighthouse Recycler Location

The recycler at the lighthouse can be found on the third floor. Upon entering the lighthouse through the exterior door, locate the stairs to the second floor and continue up the par-cor floorboards that lead to the third floor. The recycler will be located along the stone wall opposite the lighthouse tower.

RUST Mining Outpost Recycler Location

The recycler at the mining outpost is mostly self-evident. The recycler is inside the building in between a stack of pallets and a shelf.

RUST Military Tunnels Recycler Location

The recycler at the Military Tunnels Monument can be found in a metal shack located near the Shelter 4 Storage mine tunnel exit. For more details on navigating this monument, see our RUST military tunnel guide.

RUST Outpost Location

The Outpost has a special location dedicated to recycling, and thanks to the Modular Cars Update, now hosts three recyclers at the location above.

RUST Power Plant Recycler Locations

One Power Plant recycler can be found in the puzzle building opposite the steam towers. Follow the stairs and walkways along the outside of the building to get up to the top floor. Follow the walkway until you reach a door into the building that has no lock. The recycler will be inside.

Another recycler can be found inside the large, central puzzle building in the middle of the monument. Head up to the “control room” level and follow the wall around. The recycler is nestled between two tall storage shelves.

RUST Sewer Branch Recycler Locations

One Sewer Branch recycler can be found behind the red warehouse building on the top-side of the monument. There is a concrete wall that wraps around to provide a bit of cover, and the recycler can be found inside this semi-enclosure.

The second recycler is underground inside of the sewer. Find the manhole entrance in the center of the monument, next to the par-cor jump puzzle. Follow the tunnel until you reach a locked door. You will need a blue keycard to get through this door. Once you’ve unlocked this door, follow the tunnel until you enter a sewer main room that appears to be inhabited. The recycler is located across from a set of stairs in this room.

RUST Satellite Dish Recycler Location

The Satellite Dish monument is another monument that received a complete overhaul with the HDRP art backport update. The satellites now sit on three concrete pads, one of which is only the broken base of a dish that has fallen off. You will find the new satellite dish recycler located underneath the broken remains of this dish’s base, nestled amongst some wooden storage crates on top of the concrete pad.

RUST Train Yard Recycler Location

Starting at the water tower, follow the pipes that lead to a red warehouse building. Take the stairs to the top-most level and enter the first door that is available. The recycler can be found in a small interior room with no door on this floor.

RUST Water Treatment Plant Recycler Location

The water treatment recycler can be found on the top floor of the long warehouse building seen at the bottom left of the screenshot above. There are multiple methods for getting to the top floor, but regardless of the method, you will be able to find the recycler snug up against a partition wall that is also being shared with a repair bench.

What items give the best scrap?

Knowing what to keep and what to toss while scrap farming is essential. Use the table below to prioritize the best loot to keep in terms of scrap when breaking barrels and boxes.