BY: Colleen Marble
By now, everyone’s heard the mantra “reduce, reuse, recycle.” But when it comes to curbside recycling, there’s still a lot of confusion over what can and can’t be tossed into the bin.
Take paper, for example. A recent report from Two Sides North America notes that even though paper recycling rates are high in the United States, many consumers don’t realize just how much paper we can — and do — recycle. But, compared with the last report in 2023, awareness is growing, which shows that consumer education from organizations like Two Sides North America and the American Forest & Paper Association is working.
“We’re seeing greater awareness of recycling,” says Jules Van Sant, Executive Director, Two Sides North America. “Yet consumers continue to underestimate how effective paper recycling really is.”
The Two Sides report found that only 68 percent of U.S. consumers and 72 percent of Canadian consumers understand which types of products can go into the recycling bin. And even though paper and paper products can be recycled several times, they don’t last forever. More than half of all North American consumers think we should only use recycled paper products, without understanding that sustainably sourced virgin fiber has to enter the recycling loop to keep it going.
Despite consumer confusion and perceptions, “paper is still best-in-class for recyclability,” explains Van Sant. “It still leads the pack ahead of glass, metal, and plastic, with a majority of paper products and paper packaging being recycled in the United States. Consumers can be confident that choosing paper and paper-based packaging tells a positive sustainability story, as it is reused over and over again.”
The Changing World of Curbside Recycling
One of the barriers to proper curbside recycling is simply a lack of knowledge about how to do so correctly. That can lead people to either toss something that could have been recycled, or to wishcycle, meaning they put something in their recycling bin that isn’t actually recyclable.
At the same time, recycling technology is evolving, and some things that historically were not recyclable are now acceptable, and more of what is sent to recycling is actually recycled instead of being diverted to a landfill.
Our updated curbside recycling guide can help clear the air on what is and isn’t recyclable these days. Be sure to check your local recycling guidelines, as they may differ from the guidance we’ve provided.
What can, and can’t, be recycled?
Shredded paper is not recyclable.
If paper is recyclable, then shredded paper must be recyclable, right? The answer is a not-so-simple no. Most curbside recycling facilities can’t recycle shredded paper, even if you bundle it in paper bags. It makes a mess, and because the paper has been cut, the fibers may be too short for recycling.
Some document shredding services can recycle paper, so if you have one in your area, you can try that. Another option is to separate only those pages containing personal information and shred those. You can either throw the shreds away, repurpose them or use them in your garden or compost pile. Then, recycle the rest of the papers as usual.
Pizza boxes are recyclable.
Yes, your empty pizza boxes are recyclable! The American Forest & Paper Association says that, based on work with its industry partners, pizza boxes are definitely suitable for curbside recycling programs — grease and cheese included. And who knows? Maybe one of your old pizza boxes will one day find new life at our Kingsport Mill recycled containerboard facility.
Staples and paper clips are fine.
If you want to remove staples and paper clips before tossing paper into your curbside recycling bin, you can. But recycling experts agree you can skip that step if you want to. The machinery used to recycle paper can remove those small bits of metal without any problem. That said, you should take a moment to remove binder clips, which are difficult to recycle but can be reused in many creative ways.
You don’t have to remove labels and wash food containers.
Conventional recycling wisdom says to remove labels from glass and metal food containers and thoroughly wash them before recycling. But actually, all you need to do is quickly rinse out any food residue before tossing glass jars and tin cans into your curbside recycling bin, label and all.
Keep plastic bags out of your curbside recycling bin.
Plastic film — the type used for food wraps and plastic shopping bags — can damage equipment at curbside recycling facilities, so please don’t put it in your bin. However, there are some recycling programs that can accept these materials and turn them into new products, such as decking and benches. Search for a plastic bag and plastic film drop-off location near you. And to reduce the number of plastic bags in your home, try switching to paper bags or reusable cloth shopping bags.
Mail is recyclable, even glossy mailers.
Perhaps you’ve heard that glossy paper, such as that found in magazines and on slick advertising mailers, is not recyclable. But actually, it is, as long as you can tear it easily. Just remove any plastic wrappers or plastic-laminated pieces first.
Black plastic is not recyclable.
There are only a few facilities in the United States that have the ability to recycle black plastic on an industrial scale, but they won’t accept household waste, which means Americans have no choice but to toss black and dark-colored plastic, which can be toxic and difficult to sort, into the trash. Now that you know, try to avoid buying products packaged in black and dark plastic that will inevitably end up in the landfill. Look for plastic-free paper packaging as an alternative.
Paper cups are recyclable.
It used to be that paper cups were not considered recyclable due to the coatings that made them water resistant. But today, you can recycle paper cups in many curbside recycling programs thanks to technology advancements that have enabled more mills to accept cups as part of the raw materials used in recycled paper products.
That said, not all communities are ready to accept paper cups. Check with your local curbside recycling service to see which cups they will and won’t accept. And stay tuned for more information about paper cup recycling as industry organizations like the American Forest & Paper Association and the Paper Cup Alliance continue to encourage communities to add cups to the list of acceptable items for curbside recycling.
Milk and juice cartons are recyclable.
If paper cups aren’t recyclable, why are milk and juice cartons okay? The cartons used for milk, juice and other liquids, such as broth and soup, are known as aseptic packaging, and they are made in such a way that each of the components (paper, plastic and aluminum) are easily separated. Many curbside recycling programs sort and bundle these containers for further processing at an appropriate facility. Check with your local facility for more information.
Items with mixed materials may not be recyclable.
Unlike aseptic packaging, many items made with different materials can’t be easily separated into their recyclable components. For example, three-ring binders are made of cardboard, plastic and metal, but because they are difficult to separate into their components, most curbside recycling programs don’t accept them. On the other hand, a paper envelope with a small plastic-covered address window can easily be recycled.
And don’t forget — the office paper within your binder can be added to your recycling bin, as long as it is removed from the binder.
Don’t bag recyclables.
It may be easier to take recyclables to the bin by putting them in a bag first, but don’t do that. Bags, even sustainably produced paper bags, can interfere with the automated sorting machinery and jam equipment at your local recycling facility. As a result, anything in a bag is typically diverted to the landfill, regardless of what’s inside. (That said, some communities require residents to use special recycling bags. Check your local guidelines.)
When in doubt, check first.
It can be tempting to place everything with a recycling symbol into the curbside bin. But not every recycling program has the equipment to process every type of material, and some municipalities may require you to separate your own recycling into different bins or drop off each type of material at a separate location. Ask your local recycling program which materials they accept and whether they offer single-stream recycling, or try asking The Recycling Partnership’s chatbot (U.S.)