Maybe you watched the video, but I think you also need to listen to it. They explained (if not proved) how the AirPods are essentially impossible to recycle... so, no, you actually can not recycle them when the life of your AirPods are over, unfortunately.
They're not impossible to recycle. If you deliver it to Apple, they'll make sure to recycle at least the battery which is the most important component to recycle.
Also third-party, like The Swap Club, offer you to swap your AirPods with bad battery for refurbished ones with good battery.