Paper is one of the most highly recycled materials in the U.S, which is good news because paper production–especially tissue products–contributes to significant deforestation, water use, energy consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions. Paper waste also takes up considerable space in landfills, where it’s the third most common material, after food and plastic.

But what paper is and isn’t recyclable? In some cases, it’s not a straightforward as you might think. Read on to learn how to recycle paper and become an expert in what paper goods you can throw in the recycle bin.

Considering that most paper is meant for one use, find ways to replace common items, like paper towels and wrapping paper, with reusable alternatives. For any paper products you do use, those made from recycled paper are the most eco-friendly option, followed by sustainably-sourced, FSC-certified products. Find sustainable paper products here.

What types of paper are recyclable?

In general, the following types of paper products should be accepted for recycling everywhere, but as with any recycling question, check with your local municipality or recycling company.

• Newspaper & ad inserts

• Paper Shopping Bags

• Mail
  • Including junk mail, paper mailers, postcards, brochures, letters, and envelopes–including the ones with the plastic window. No need to remove stamps from envelopes.
  • If you have a paper mailer padded with bubble wrap, you can recycle the paper portion after separating from the plastic–otherwise, these need to go into the trash.

• Greeting Cards
  • As long as they’re not covered in glitter or printed on photo paper.

• White & Colored Paper
  • Office paper, glossy paper, construction paper, post-it notes, paperboard, poster board, greeting cards, notebooks, homework, note cards, folders, clothing tags, business cards, pretty much any type of mail.
  • Post-it notes are small and likely to get lost in the mix, so I stick them to a regular-sized piece of paper. Place items smaller than a credit card in an envelope or wrap them inside other paper.

• Books & Magazines
  • Unless a book is not salvageable, donate it. Paperback books can be recycled; hardback only if pages are removed–the cover usually cannot be recycled.
  • Catalogs, manuals, workbooks, and phone books (do they still even make those?) are recyclable.

• Cardboard Boxes
  • No need to remove tape or shipping labels.
  • Break down boxes to save room for others in public cardboard drop-offs; this also helps save room in the truck for fewer trips to the recycling facility.

• Cardboard Tubes
  • i,e. TP, paper towel, and wrapping paper rolls.

• Paperboard Packaging
  • Examples are shoe boxes, cardboard egg cartons, tissue boxes, boxes for toothpaste, soap, cosmetics, and OTC medications, or boxes for foods like baked goods, cereal, pasta, candy, or cake mix.
  • Note that those with a waxy coating that can be scraped off with your fingernail (usually found on frozen or refrigerated food packaging) cannot be recycled in most places, but check with your recycler.

Possibly recyclable

These items might be recyclable if they meet certain criteria.

• Pizza Boxes
  • Only if lightly soiled–if the bottom has a lot of grease or cheese, tear off the top half to recycle and throw the greasy part in the trash. Some recyclers may accept greasy boxes.

• Wrapping Paper, Tissue Paper, Gift Bags
  • These items are recyclable as long as they are not metallic or coated with glitter or lots of decorations. Remove any non-paper adornments from gift bags, such as fabric, beads, and ribbon or rope handles.
  • Test wrapping paper using the scrunch test: if you scrunch it into a ball and it stays that way, it is ok to be recycled. If it doesn’t stay in a ball, it’s made with plastic and cannot be recycled.

• Art Projects
  • This may vary, but I was told by my local recycler that any drawings with crayons, colored pencils, and markers are ok, and that projects with glue are fine as long as there aren’t “excessive amounts.” Remove macaroni, googly eyes, etc. You’ll have to use your discretion there. If it’s coated in glitter, it’s got to go in the trash.

• Paper cups (rare)
  • In general, cups must be all paper without a waxy coating inside, like coffee cups.

• Aseptic Cartons, aka Tetrapaks
  • There are two types of aseptic cartons, which are coated paper containers that hold liquids. Shelf-stable cartons can sit in your pantry; these are things like juice boxes, soups, gravy, nut milks, and wine. Refrigerated, aka gable-top, cartons are found in the refrigerated section of the grocery store and contain foods such as milk, cream, juice, and egg substitutes. Some recyclers accept both refrigerated and shelf-stable, while others take only one kind. Find out whether aseptic carton recycling is available in your area, but it is best to check with your local recycler specifically.

What paper cannot be recycled?

• Wet paper, which is why your other mixed recyclables should be clean and dry.
• Tissue products, including napkins, paper towels, facial tissues, and toilet paper.
• Receipt paper. The thermal paper used to print receipts isn’t recyclable, and may contain BPA, a hormone-disrupting chemical. Hint: if you scratch the paper and it leaves a grey line, it is thermal paper.
• Yard signs. Although they look like paper or cardboard, yard signs are actually made from corrugated plastic or styrofoam and are not recyclable.
• Items soaked with grease, fats, oil, or chemicals
• Hardback books
• Photo paper
• Coffee cups (or any other wax-coated cup)
• Shredded paper isn’t accepted by many recyclers, since it just turns into a confetti mess. Some may take it if stored in a cardboard box, or consider using a shredding service.