Paper (and cardboard) is collected separately from residual waste. It is recycled as a secondary raw material for the production of new paper and cardboard. Waste paper is new paper. For a successful recycling process, it is important that waste paper and cardboard is clean and dry, and free of plastic and other contamination.
You can offer paper and cardboard in a container or at any of the environmental centres. > View your personal waste calendar
What belongs where?
You can recognise paper and cardboard that belong in the paper container by the recycling logo. This logo can be found on many paper and cardboard products.
Waste paper
Clean and dry:
- newspapers and magazines
- advertising leaflets without plastic sleeves
- guides and catalogues
- receipts
- tickets
- books and brochures
- small and large cardboard boxes
- paper bags and sacks
- wrapping paper, gift paper
- egg cartons
- corrugated board
- cardboard padding for products
- printing and copying paper (staples, paper clips or adhesive tape may remain in place)
- writing paper, drawing paper
- envelopes (paper and cardboard, also with window)
- unused (clean) paper wallpaper
Not in the waste paper
Dirty or wet:
- cake boxes with food waste and plastic window, pizza boxes, baking paper and coffee filters
- tissues, tissues, kitchen paper, nappies, toilet paper: sanitary paper
- wallpaper: paper and vinyl
This paper and cardboard belongs in the residual waste.
Paper and cardboard with plastic:
- plastic covers for (advertising) leaflets and magazines
- milk, yoghurt and juice cartons (beverage cartons): with the pmd
- liquid detergent packaging: liquid-proof carton
- train tickets: with single chip card
- frozen packaging: carton with plastic interior
- paper sandwich bags: paper and plastic
- laminated paper and board
- plastic bags and sacks: with the pmd
- plastic bubble envelopes
- binders and ring binders
- plastic storage folders
These products belong to the residual waste or - as indicated - at the pmd.
To the environmental street:
- soiled or painted paper (paint)
- photos and photo paper
- painted wallpaper
Collection is recycling
All the separately collected waste paper goes through scrap paper companies to paper mills. They use it directly as a secondary raw material in their production process. Collection is recycling: 86% of graphic paper and 88% of paper/cardboard packaging is recycled. Nothing is incinerated or landfilled. Because then we would lose it forever. So old paper and cardboard is a valuable raw material, well worth collecting separately.
Want to know more about paper recycling and sustainability?
Go to Paper Circular or Paperboard.co.uk.
