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What Paper Is Recyclable?
Virtually all the paper produced in an office is recyclable, but
some types are more valuable than others. Therefore, recyclers
classify paper into various grades. The following are the most
commonly recycled from offices. The definitions of these paper
grades may vary from recycler to recycler so it is best to ask
your recycler what type they accept.
- Computer Print-Out (High Grade): Colored-barred or blank
sheets generated by laser or impact printers. No commercial forms
or commercial inks.
- White Ledger (High Grade): Any non-glossy, printed or
unprinted, white office paper such as letterhead stationary,
typing, writing, or Xerox paper.
- Mixed Office Paper (Lower Grade): Unsorted office paper
including white ledger, colored/non-glossy paper, envelopes, junk
mail, note paper, tab cards, pamphlets, brochures, etc.
- Groundwood Computer Paper (Lower Grade): Computer paper with
groundwood computer paper content. Identifiable by a dull, gritty
appearance similar to a phonebook page.
- Corrugated Cardboard (Lower Grade): Corrugated cardboard boxes
and packing cardboard.
- Newspaper, Magazines, Phone Books: These items can be recycled
in the county but are not usually picked up by recyclers through
an office paper recycling program. For information on recycling
these items, call the Solid Waste District.
What's Not Recyclable?
There are a few types of paper that cannot be recycled in your
paper recycling program. However, recyclers may allow a certain
amount of these items before a load of paper is considered
"contaminated" which can cause it to be downgraded in price or
rejected. Your recycler will be able to tell you what, if any,
percentage of the following items are allowable:
- Brown Kraft envelopes
- Pendaflex envelopes
- Blueprint paper
- Paper cups with food contamination
How Should I Separate My Paper for Recycling?
To make recycling easy and profitable, most companies recycle
computer paper and mixed office paper separately. The reason to
separate the paper this way is to get the best price for your
paper without sacrificing program convenience. You will receive
more money for high grades of paper like computer paper and white
ledger if they are separated from lower grades like mixed office
paper. These two grades include about 90% of the paper typically
produced in an office.
Since every company is different, another method may work best for
you. Some companies recycle all their paper together since they
produce very little computer paper and don't want to worry about
whether employees are separating the paper correctly. Other
produce a lot of cardboard and decide to include this in their
program. By conducting the waste audit on the next page, you will
determine the types and amounts of paper produced by your
company which will help you decide what to include in your recycling
program.
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