ModsFinder

Iron Nugget Recycling

by creep

Iron Nugget Recycling lets players smelt most iron-requiring items back into iron nuggets, which recovers iron from tools and gear that would otherwise be set aside.

FabricForgeNeoForgeQuiltServer required, client optionalMIT License1.13 – 1.21.8

What it does

Smelting in a furnace turns a wide set of iron-based items into iron nuggets, so tools, armor and other iron gear can be recovered rather than lost. The recipes cover items such as flint steel, the recovery compass, minecarts with a chest or hopper, and anvil variants. A list of the items that can be smelted into nuggets is included in the mod's documentation.

The server must run the mod, while players may leave it out. Files are published for Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt, with builds for 1.13 – 1.21.8. The data pack option means the same recipes can run on servers that do not use a mod loader. The code is released under the MIT License and is not open source.

Key features

  1. Iron item smelting

    Most items that require iron in their recipe can be smelted back into iron nuggets in a furnace.

  2. Flint steel and recovery compass

    Flint steel and the recovery compass both return nuggets when smelted, so their iron is not wasted.

  3. Minecart recipes

    Minecarts with a chest and minecarts with a hopper are included in the smelting list.

  4. Anvil variants

    Anvils and their variants can be broken down into nuggets with the same furnace process.

Compatibility

Latest build for each game version and loader.

1.21.x9 of 9 versions with builds
1.21.81.2+mod1.2+mod1.2+mod1.2+mod
1.21.71.2+mod1.2+mod1.2+mod1.2+mod
1.21.61.2+mod1.2+mod1.2+mod1.2+mod
1.21.51.2+mod1.2+mod1.2+mod1.2+mod
1.21.41.1+mod1.1+mod1.1+mod1.1+mod
1.21.31.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod
1.21.21.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod
1.21.11.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod
1.211.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod
1.20.x7 of 7 versions with builds
1.20.61.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod
1.20.51.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod
1.20.41.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod
1.20.31.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod
1.20.21.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod
1.20.11.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod
1.201.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod
1.19.x5 of 5 versions with builds
1.18.x3 of 3 versions with builds
1.17.x2 of 2 versions with builds
1.16.x6 of 6 versions with builds
1.15.x3 of 3 versions with builds
1.14.x5 of 5 versions with builds
1.13.x3 of 3 versions with builds
ReleaseBetaAlphaNot available

Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.

Use cases

Iron-scarce worlds

Players who keep vanilla progression but want iron to stretch further can recover material from tools they no longer need.

Server economies

Server owners can use the data pack option to add recycling without requiring a loader, for worlds where players trade iron.

Who it’s for: Players who want iron recovery in vanilla-style worlds, and server owners who want it on their server. Only the server needs the mod to run; clients may skip it.

How it compares

Full comparison

Cheaper Compasses is needed on the server, with the client optional, which is different from this mod. It is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike 4.0 and covers 1.20 – 26.3. More Nuggets needs both the client and the server, is under All rights reserved, covers 1.21 – 26.3 and has no Quilt files.

ModLoadersGame versionsEnvironmentUpdated
Iron Nugget RecyclingFabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt1.13 – 1.21.8Server required, client optional2025-09-03
Cheaper CompassesFabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt1.20 – 26.3Server required, client optional2026-09-28
More NuggetsFabric, Forge and NeoForge1.21 – 26.3Client and server2026-10-06

Questions

Does Iron Nugget Recycling need to be installed on both sides?

No. The server must run it, while players may leave it out, so clients can join without it.

Which loaders are supported?

Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt all have files, and a data pack option is also available for servers without a mod loader.

Can it be used on the latest game version?

Yes. The latest file is 1.2+mod for 1.21.8, published on 2025-09-03, and builds exist for 1.13 – 1.21.8.

In the catalog

Iron Nugget Recycling is one of 36,990 Utility mods on ModsFinder, and one of 25,772 Utility mods for Fabric. 17,695 mods support Minecraft 1.21.8.

Utility mods36,990Fabric modsMods for 1.21.817,695

More from creep

All projects
Gold Nugget Recycling1.13 – 1.21.8

Similar mods

Mod Menu1.14.4 – 26.3Reese's Sodium Options1.16.5 – 26.3Jade 🔍1.16.4 – 26.3Zoomify (Zoom)1.18 – 26.3FancyMenu1.12 – 26.3Indium1.16.5 – 1.21.1

What the author says

For Gold Nuggets check out Gold Nugget Recycling!
creep, on the Modrinth page

Official listing

Owner
creep
Published
2024-10-07
Updated on Modrinth
2025-09-03
Facts verified
2026-10-15

Tags

Utility
Open on ModrinthCompare