I have an older ipad I'm not ready to recycle but can't recall my old apple id and password

If you have forgotten your AppleID and/or associated password, they can be recovered here:

https://iforgot.apple.com

To recover your credentials, you’ll need access to one of the following:

• Your primary email address mailbox that corresponds with your AppleID
• Any of the secondary/recovery email addresses that should be configured for your AppleID account
• Any of the trusted telephone numbers (fixed line or Cellular/Mobile) that are associated with your AppleID

Unless you AppleID account has not been fully/correctly configured, or has been seriously neglected, recovery of the AppleID and password should not be difficult.

More information about recovery of your AppleID:

If you forgot your Apple ID - Apple Support

More information about recovery of your AppleID password:

If you forgot your Apple ID password - Apple Support

When you recover access to your credentials, you would be well advised to log-in to your AppleID account from a web browser - and verify/update any email addresses and trusted telephone numbers:

https://appleid.apple.com

Once recovered, assuming that you are able to access iPad settings, you can completely erase the device and start again should you choose to do so:

Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content & Settings

Be aware that this reset will wipe everything - including all installed Apps. Depending upon the age of your iPad, you may have difficulties finding available compatible Apps for download or re-installation. The majority of 32-bit Apps have long since been withdrawn from the App Store - as such, utility of your iPad may be limited. Compatible Apps for iPad1-4 and iPad mini1 (all are 32-bit “obsolete” devices) are now very scarce or simply unavailable.

Not sure which iPad you have? Identify your iPad model.

How old, exactly, is this iPad?

Can you, please, confirm what year and model iPad do you have/own?

The “A” model number can be found on the aluminium back of your iPad, in very small print, right under the larger bold print “iPad” on the back of the iPad.