So what can we actually recycle?

It has come to my attention that recycling doesn’t necessarily cater to every form of paper or plastic being disposed. Regulations within the communities and offices that collect our presumed to be recyclable trash go through a tedious process when given materials that won’t be able to participate in the transition from reducing to reusing an item. Zeroing in on specific types of paper that can’t be considered recyclable, eco-cycle.org answers the frequently asked questions about mixed paper, and whether or not it is worth the effort to attempt to use the program.

Where can I recycle shredded paper?
A. Shredded paper cannot be recycled at the curb, and is accepted only at the drop-off center in the paperboard bin. Paperboard collected at the drop-off center is baled without going over the sorting lines, but paperboard picked up at the curb is mixed with other paper and must be sorted. When shredded paper goes over the sorting lines, it damages equipment and slips through the screens, ending up as trash.

Many office recycling programs offer a separate bin for shredded paper—check with your recycling hauler. Eco-Cycle also offers shredding services at the Charm-call for pricing and more information.

Can I recycle paperboard containers used to hold food such as to-go boxes?
A. No. While a little food on commingled containers can be handled, any food on paper will contaminate the paper bales. At the mills, baled paperboard may sit around for a while waiting for the market. Food remnants within the bale could begin to biodegrade the paper. Food contamination in the paperboard category is a BIG problem for that market.

Can I recycle egg cartons, paper towel rolls, and toilet paper rolls at the curb?
A. No. Small paperboard items can only be recycled at the drop-off centers in Boulder, Broomfield, Lafayette/Louisville, and Longmont. Small paperboard items are not accepted through the curbside program because the items have to be picked out by hand at the recycling facility. Items that are too small may fall through the screen at the facility and end up as trash.

For more questions answered, go to http://www.ecocycle.org/faq/paper.cfm

For someone constantly advocating everyone to recycle any form of paper or plastic, I found these pieces of information to be very useful for future situations when I am thinking of recycling. I guess that In-N-Out meal I was describing from a previous post couldn’t be a part of this process. Awareness is key, but it’s the thought that counts.