Paper Recycling

Newspaper and newspaper inserts

Paper shopping bags

Mail

• Including junk mail, paper mailers, postcards, letters and envelopes (including the ones with the plastic window. No need to remove stamps from envelopes.
• Greeting cards as long as they’re not covered in glitter or printed on photo paper.
• If you have a paper mailer padded with bubble wrap, you can recycle the paper portion after separating from the plastic.

Cardboard boxes

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

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 seen on frozen or refrigerated foods packaging) cannot be recycled in most places; check with your recycler.

Pizza boxes (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.

Paper cups (some)

• In general, must be all paper, not with waxy coating inside, like coffee cups. These are not accepted by many recyclers, check with yours.

Cardboard tubes

• TP, paper towel rolls, and wrapping paper rolls

Books & magazines

• Catalogs, manuals, brochures, paperback workbooks, paperback books, and phone books (do they still even make those?)

White and 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.
• I stick post-it notes on a regular size piece of paper so they are more likely to not get lost in the mix. Place items smaller than a credit card in an envelope or wrap inside other paper.

Art projects

• Drawing or coloring using crayons, colored pencils, and markers are ok.
• Projects with glue are ok 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.

Wrapping paper, tissue paper, 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, like fabric, beads, and ribbon or rope handles from gift bags.
• 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.

**Aseptic cartons aka tetrapaks.

• Aseptic cartons contain liquids and come in two types. 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, 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 (napkins, paper towels, toilet paper)
• Receipts. The thermal paper they are printed on isn’t recyclable. (If you scratch the paper and it leaves a grey line, it is thermal paper.)
• Items soaked with grease, fats, oil, or chemicals, including cleaning products.
• Hardback books
• Photo paper
• Coffee cups or any other waxy cup.
• Shredded paper isn’t accepted by many recyclers, since it just turns into confetti, getting everywhere. Some may take it if stored in a cardboard box, or consider using a shredding service.

Learn how paper recycling works.