6th January 2023
It is well-known that of all the products, paper is the easiest to recycle. The positive impact recycling paper can have on the environment cannot be stressed enough in terms of fewer trees getting cut and less paper-waste in the landfills!
But ever wondered if there are any paper varieties that are difficult, if not impossible, to recycle? Let’s check out which paper products cannot be recycled and should therefore be avoided or substituted for a greener environment!
1. Napkins & Tissues
You cannot recycle used tissues, napkins, wipes or sanitary towels since they have been contaminated with food, grease or other liquids.
Additionally, a large proportion of tissues are already made from recycled paper. It will be difficult to recycle them further due to the short paper fibres. So, even if the tissue is relatively clean, it will make for a low quality pulp and therefore, would be difficult to recycle.
It would therefore be advisable to compost them rather than let them end up in landfills. Alternatively, you can also substitute them with reusable cloth napkins.
2. Toilet Paper
This is another product that is difficult to recycle not just due to contamination but also since the paper fibres are already too short. It is therefore advised to use recycled toilet paper.
3. Shredded Paper
When paper is shredded, its fibers become shorter and are therefore less useful in the recycling process. It is better to compost it. Alternatively, try to avoid printing confidential data to reduce the amount of shredded paper.
4. Receipts printed on Thermal Paper
Most of the receipts are printed on thermal paper which contains BPA (Bisphenol A) that resists decomposition. These receipts therefore cannot be recycled.
It is therefore better to opt for digital receipts and reduce the amount of contamination from them.
5. Sticky Paper
Due to the presence of adhesive, sticky paper cannot be recycled. It is better to avoid using them and try keeping notes on your smartphones itself.
6. Gift Wrapping Paper
Most wrapping papers have some form of decoration such as textures, sticky tape, ribbons or bows. These decorative parts cannot be recycled.
You should first remove all these decorative pieces before recycling the paper.
7. Milk or Juice Cartons
Though made primarily of paper, most of the milk or juice cartons also have a layer of plastic or aluminum inside. They can therefore not be recycled due to the presence of non-recyclable elements.
When recycling these cartons, it is better to throw them in the plastic or metal pile instead of paper.
You could also try and buy items packed in glass or aluminum packaging instead.
8. Pizza Boxes
If a pizza box is clean, it can be recycled. However, if it is greasy, then it should be composted instead. This is because the presence of oil makes it difficult to recycle.
Conclusion
It is important to understand the process of recycling to be able to figure out if a certain product is recyclable or not. It is also better to compost or substitute the products that cannot be recycled with a more environmentally friendly option. However, do not get overwhelmed if you are not able to avoid using these non-recyclable products.
There is always the option of buying Recript’s recycled stationery and doing your bit for the environment. So, what are you waiting for? Shop for Rescript’s products now!
