Frequently Asked Questions about Mixed Paper
Why can’t I recycle neon/fluorescent/Astrobrite/dark-colored paper? How about construction paper?
A. These dark or super-bright papers are made with beater dyes, so named because they beat the dye into the fiber of the paper to get a dark or fluorescent color. Because there is so much ink in the fiber, it cannot be recycled in our recycling program because it is not possible to remove all the color from the paper in the recycling process. Dark paper may still be recyclable if the ink is printed on the paper as opposed to beaten into the paper fiber (for example, a brochure printed on light paper with dark ink). To tell the difference, tear a corner of the paper. If the color goes all the way through, it can’t be recycled. If there are white fibers inside, it can be recycled with office paper.
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.
Why isn’t shredded paper recycled with office paper at the drop-off center?
A. Once paper is shredded, it is demoted to a low-grade class because the fibers have been cut so short. Shredded paper is recycled with paperboard because paperboard is also a low-grade material. Office paper, with its longer fibers, can be recycled many times before ending up in the low-grade market. Shredded paper is accepted with paperboard at drop-off centers only, not through any curbside program. Read more on the problems with recycling shredded paper...
Can I recycle books?
A. Yes, although you don't want to recycle a book unnecessarily, so please explore all reuse options such as used bookstores and senior centers before recycling. As a last resort, recycling your paperback books in your curbside recyclign bin (if you live in Boulder County) or bring your paper and hard-back books to the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials. Book bindings are sheared off and the paper inside recycled.
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 cardboard pizza boxes?
A. Pizza boxes, while they do hold food, can be recycled. Made of corrugated cardboard, pizza boxes are a high-grade material that moves quickly through the market. However, we cannot accept pizza boxes soaked in grease and covered with cheese. If the box has lots of grease and cheese, tear that part off and throw it away (or compost it) and recycle the remaining part. And please wipe away any sauce or crumbs before tossing the box in the bin.
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.
Can I recycle shiny cardboard, and if so, are staples or tape a problem?
A. Shiny or glossy cardboard can be recycled with regular cardboard. Staples and tape are not problems—they’ll come out in the screens during the sorting process. If you can tear off wads of tape, please do, but removing staples is unnecessary.
What is waxy cardboard?
A. Large produce boxes used by grocery stores have a wax coating used to prevent contamination and infestation. You can tell the difference between waxy and shiny cardboard with a simple test. If you run your fingernail up the side of the box and a layer of wax peels off, you have waxy cardboard that must be thrown away or composted. Shiny cardboard can be recycled with regular cardboard.
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