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Mixed paper

Mixed paper is the term used to refer to different types of recyclable paper mixed together. Paper is one of the most commonly known recyclable items. Uncoated mixed paper is accepted for recycling in curbside recycling carts and at the Drop-Off Station and Recovery Yard. Paper can be printed, drawn, or written on. Paper should be clean (no grease) and dry. Staples and plastic windows on paper envelopes are okay to leave on. Remove any paper clips, metal bindings, and plastic wrap/film.

Common accepted mixed paper items:

• Newspaper and glossy ads
• Magazines
• Catalogs 
• Envelopes
• Mailers/junk mail
• Flyers
• Paper packaging
• Office paper
• Colored paper
• Post-it notes
• Paper bags
• Craft paper 
• Greeting cards (no glitter, plastic, metallic coatings, or embellishments), 
• Wrapping paper (no glitter, plastic, or metallic coatings)

Not accepted mixed paper items:

• Paper coated in plastic 
• Paper coated with food, grease, liquid
• Shredded paper (accepted for recycling at the Drop-Off Station only)
• Tissue paper
• Receipts/thermal paper (some are coated in BPA plastic coating)
• Paper napkins
• Paper towels
• Tissues
• Toilet paper
• Paper coffee cups
• Coated paper plates
• Hard and soft cover books
• Photographs

Recycle Right!

Place smaller pieces of paper inside a paper envelope to prevent them from dropping through the cracks of the sorting machines or getting mixed in the glass stream. Plastic-coated paper cannot be recycled. The plastic coating can contaminate the paper recyclables, causing them to become trash instead of being recycled. You can identify plastic-coated paper by its shiny appearance on one or both sides.

Choose Zero Waste!

You can repurpose paper as scrap paper, use it to create homemade cards, or for craft and collage projects.