Why Paper Recycling Matters
Recycling one ton of paper saves approximately 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, and 4,000 kWh of electricity. Paper fibers can be recycled 5–7 times before they become too short to form new paper. The paper recycling industry supports thousands of mills across the country that depend on recovered fiber as their primary raw material.
What's Accepted: Paper
Newspapers, magazines, catalogs, junk mail, office paper, envelopes (windows OK), paper bags, egg cartons, wrapping paper (non-metallic), paper cups (check locally), paperback books, file folders, and sticky notes.
Shredded paper is trickier — the short fibers can fall through screens at sorting facilities. Some centers accept it bagged in a paper bag; others don't accept it at all. Call ahead.
What's Accepted: Cardboard
Corrugated cardboard (the brown boxes everything ships in) is one of the most valuable recyclables. Flatten boxes completely before dropping off. Chipboard — the thinner cardboard used in cereal boxes, shoe boxes, and tissue boxes — is also widely accepted.
Remove packing tape, polystyrene inserts, and other non-cardboard materials before recycling. A little tape is OK and won't contaminate a load.
What to Avoid
Wax-coated cardboard (like produce boxes from grocery stores) can't be recycled with regular cardboard — the wax prevents proper re-pulping. Greasy pizza boxes should go to compost; grease doesn't wash out during paper recycling.
Mixed materials like juice cartons, coffee cups with plastic linings, and thermal paper (receipts) require specialized facilities. Check locally before assuming they're recyclable.