Do's and Do-Not's of Paper Recycling

DO DON'T
  • Keep paper dry: Wet paper is more difficult to recycle, and can outright ruin many otherwise-recycleable materials.
  • Don't try to recycle boxes covered in food or grease!
  • Check if it has plastic lining: Many plastic-lined papers can't be recycled.
  • Don't leave your recycling out in the rain.
  • Flatten boxes: Breaking down larger objects helps make the recycling process easier, and saves more room in the bin.
  • Don't tear up paper unnecessarily: long, wide boards of paper and cardboard are easier to recycle.

While paper decomposes very quickly, it can take a long time to grow the trees needed to replace it. As a result, recycling (and using recycled paper) helps cut down on deforestation, which directly affects the atmosphere and quality of air.