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But if it resists your scrunching, that could mean it's not recyclable.īut whether the paper you tear open over the holidays is recyclable or not, and no matter what the specific rules are in your area, recycling experts agree you can avoid the problem altogether by using sustainable alternatives to traditional, single-use gift wrap. It's called the Scrunch Test: Wrapping paper you can crumple up is a good candidate for recycling. Recyle Now, a United Kingdom recycling program, suggests a rule of thumb for which wrapping paper can be recycled and which can't. Keep in mind different counties will have different requirements for specific items. As for tissue paper, the San Francisco Department of the Environment says it should be composted, except if it contains metal or plastic, in which case it can be neither composted nor recycled. Laminated paper and paper coated with plastic or glitter should also be avoided.Īnd those shiny stick-on bows and sparkly nylon ribbons?Unrecyclable.īut simple matte wrapping paper, even the colorful kind, can be tossed in the blue recycle bin without concern, Reed says. Metallic gift wrap typically doesn’t contain enough paper fibers to be useful in paper mills and can even contaminate other recyclable material. Therefore, it’s crucial for you to conserve and recycle as much paper as you can, and it’s easy to start doing so in your office.“We encourage people to avoid metallic wrapping paper,” Reed said. Paper can only be recycled approximately eight times, because the recycling process weakens the cellulose or organic plant fibers. Lastly, wax-, plastic- and foil-coated papers include frozen food boxes, juice boxes, dairy and non-milk (e.g., soymilk) cartons, individually wrapped candies and chocolates, thermal fax paper (glossy) and laminated presentations. Shredded office paper includes those private and confidential documents such as credit card bills, classified documents and other documents with personal information that you usually destroy to prevent identity theft. As a result of the shredding, the paper isn’t strong enough to go through the recycling process. These contaminants will affect the pulp that is created at the paper mill, and the pulp cannot be turned back into paper if oil from food leftovers is in the mix.Īlthough you might think shredded paper would be a shoo-in, it’s actually not because the act of cutting the paper into smaller pieces weakens the blend of the paper fibers. Overall, avoid recycling any paper items that have been contaminated with food, bacteria, viruses and mold. These are the no-nos to general paper recycling that you also have to apply to your workspace.Įxamples of soiled paper include used facial tissues, napkins and paper towels, take-out boxes, carbon paper and paper plates. Papers that cannot be recycled are lumped into three main groups: soiled paper, shredded paper and wax-, plastic- or foil-coated paper. While the majority of what you toss out while you work can be recycled, there are some exceptions to the rule. This includes common office supplies such as sticky notes, printer paper, ream wrapper (from printer paper), notebook paper, file folders, scrap paper, mailers, boxes, postcards, business cards (non-glossy), envelopes, receipts, paper cups (rinsed), etc. Recycling centers and collectors will take corrugated cardboard, magazines, catalogs, telephone books, junk mail, newspapers - most types of paper can be recycled. You have the power to prevent the estimated 1 billion trees that are thrown away by Americans every year!īy recycling your paper office products, they have a chance to become office supplies all over again. Starting with your office paper products is a great way to get involved and become more sustainable, and for the most part, there are very few types of paper that can’t be recycled. Recycling paper changes the world, because for every ton of reclaimed paper, 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space are diverted.