The recycle box is a staple of the series, and the box inAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsis no different, with one lucky player recently proving why it’s essential to regularly check your recycling. Located at Resident Services, the recycle box might typically be filled with low-value items like Cardboard Boxes or Rusted Parts, but there’s always the chance of finding something of value -especially if you’ve recently said goodbye to a villager, or renovated your island.

RedditorFreekwenzee-tanrecently took to theAnimal Crossingforum to share what might be the luckiest find in any recycle box, ever. Sharing a screenshot, the user revealed their shock after finding none other than a Royal Crown in their box, which can be purchased from the Able Sisters for an eye-watering 1.2 million Bells. Asthe most expensive item inAnimal Crossing: New Horizons, it’s no wonder that Freekwenzee-tan took to Reddit to query their find - and luckily, it seems there’s an obvious explanation for the rare discovery.

A split image showing the Royal Crown for sale in Animal Crossing and Isabelle and Tom Nook

How Did New Horizons' Most Expensive Item End Up In The Recycling?

Reddit Has Figured It Out

If you’rehoping to find a Royal Crownin your recycle box, you’re probably out of luck. While some of the commenters on the post hope to find it’s possible for the game to randomly gift such a valuable item, userSentenceCareful3246has the real reason. “My guess is that you bought that, left it on the ground, forgot about it and then you built something over the item. And,in case you didn’t know, when that happens the item ends up going to the recycle box,” they commented, to which the OP replied that yes, they now remember that happening.

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As is often the case with revelations like the above,manyACNHfans were surprised to learnthat building over an item - or using the Clean Up service - will result in it ending up in the recycle box. This is indeed the case though, according toNookipedia. The recycle box works by offering the chance to receive “three Clay, three Iron Nuggets, a small furniture item, an item of clothing, a flower bag, a Sapling, Cedar Sapling, a wallpaper, or trash.” It’s also possible to receive a clothing item, a Rusted Part, a Cardboard Box, and the clothing or wallpaper of a recently moved-out villager. As for whether any item in the game could appear in the recycle box, it appears not, so finding a Royal Crown by chance in your own isn’t likely to happen.

Animal Crossing Angry villagers and resetti standing over one side lush grass and another of deteriorated grass.

Never Forget To Check Your Recycling Box

Add It To Your To-Do List

Despite the recycle box not gifting out items worth millions of Bells, it’s still well worth a regular visit to Resident Services to check what’s in there.There are a handful of exclusive items only available through the box, and while none are as exciting or valuable as a Royal Crown, they’re still needed if you’re looking tocomplete your item catalog. Some of the more basic items - like Clay, Iron Nuggets, and Cardboard Boxes - are all really useful materials to have in bulk for crafting, and the recycle box is an easy place to find them.

The Redditor’s lucky save also highlights another reason to check the box: if they hadn’t, they’d have lost the game’s most valuable item without even realizing their error! It’s worth getting into the habit of checking the recycle box every time you finish an island renovation, not just for items, but to make sure you haven’t also accidentally thrown out a prizedAnimal Crossing: New Horizonspossession.

animal crossing new horizons

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Animal Crossing New Horizons character resting on a beach towel

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Talking to Tom Nook in his tent in the plaza at the start of Animal Crossing New Horizons