Newspaper Recycling Is EasyNewspaper recycling, (this includes most paper and cardboard), is very easy to accomplish. Even if you are unable to find recycling outlets for any other item, 99.9% of the time you will be able to recycle paper. Because of this, most new paper products that you buy contain recycled paper. Paper and cardboard that is headed for the recycling center must be clean and dry. Remove or shred any items with sensitive information. I recommend removing your name and address from everything. When recycling catalogs, don’t forget to check the order form, as these are usually preprinted with your address. Some recycling centers will not accept wrapping paper, so check first. I like to save paper grocery bags for storing paper recyclables. They are a great size for normal household items, such as: the cardboard rollers from toilet paper and paper towels, envelops, junk mail, catalogs, newspapers, etc. When I get to the mobile collection point the whole bag just gets tossed in. If you have tons (I mean this literally) used paper is bought by the pound, so check around to find out where the highest price is being offered. This will involve taking it to a newspaper recycling plant, which may be close by if you live in a larger town. Boxes need to be broken down so they lay flat. This makes storage easier at home and takes up less room in the recycling bin. Remove any staples, keep a Leatherman or other multi tool handy for easy removal. As a general rule pizza boxes are not recyclable because of the food residue. Rather than just throw them away, I like to save them to use as fire starters at the fire pit. Nothing like some pepperoni grease to get the fire going.
Some thoughts on Newspaper RecyclingIf you live in the South or areas that are warm and humid, you are going to have additional challenges in paper recycling. Namely cockroaches. Saving paper & cardboard in a paper bag is probably not going to happen. You probably haven’t even seen a paper bag in years. Paper recycling can be done, but you will need to take extra precautions so your items do not become damp and infested. If a particular company is flooding your snail mail box with junk mail, call or write and ask them to stop. I have noticed that as postage rates go up the amount of junk mail goes down. Most mail order companies will stop sending catalogs if you do not order from them. Our local cable company was sending us 10 to 12 direct mail pieces a month. They don't even offer cable to our address. It finally stopped after I made several phone calls.
Can the paper be reused prior to recycling?I always try to reuse an item at least once before taking it to the recycling bin. Paper grocery bags are used to carry return for deposit cans and bottles to the store. I just keep reusing them until they start to wear out and then use them for paper recyclables. I keep a steady supply of scratch paper available by reusing junk mail and other paper items that still have one blank side. When both sides have been used it can go to the recycle bin. I have a friend that reuses envelopes. Another woman I know uses old phone book pages for drop cloths in craft projects. Used calendars, magazines and greeting cards can be used in craft projects. Older items (from the 1950’s or before) can be sold on eBay, at flea markets,
yard sales
, antique stores, or
consignment shops.
Remember, the best time to recycle an item is when it is totally used up and not good for anything else. It takes less resources (energy) to reuse an item than it does to recycle it. Newspaper recycling is easy, but newspaper reusing is even easier. To leave Newspaper Recycling and return to Recycling Basics Click Here.
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