# Can all paper be recycled?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-all-paper-be-recycled/350404>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 29, 2006, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-all-paper-be-recycled/350404 "2006-03-29T15:17:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2006, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-all-paper-be-recycled/350404/1 "2006-03-29T15:17:29Z")

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I get TONS of junk mail from letters to advertising brochures to magazines. Can I put all of this stuff in the recycling bin regardless of the type of paper it’s printed on? I’m sure the plain old letters are OK - but I’m not sure about the glossy stuff. How can I tell what’s recyclable and what isn’t?

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**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2006, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-all-paper-be-recycled/350404/2 "2006-03-29T15:22:42Z")

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[This says that almost all paper that isn’t coated or strongly bound can be recycled.](http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/saving/recycling/solidwaste/paperandglass.html). However, not all recycled plants can recycle the glossy kind. I would just put it in and let them sort it. That is what other people do.

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**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2006, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-all-paper-be-recycled/350404/3 "2006-03-29T15:39:56Z")

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Check with your local department that collects the recyclables and ask them exactly what they will take and won’t. That’s really the only possible answer given the variability from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

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**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2006, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-all-paper-be-recycled/350404/4 "2006-03-29T16:42:48Z")

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As I go through the day’s mail, recycle this, pitch that, shred that, I assume that window envelopes can’t be recycled. I shred all bank-card checks and applications; sometimes they stick a mock credit card to the app with a blob of gooey glue, so I have to tear out the part with the glue before shredding. Grrr.

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**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2006, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-all-paper-be-recycled/350404/5 "2006-03-29T19:30:56Z")

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The answer is, as **Mr Mapcase** said, to ask whoever takes your recycling. At home, it’s probably your city/town Department of Public Works. Different cities have different ways of collecting, processing, and selling the recycled paper, so for different places, different types of paper are OK.

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**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2006, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-all-paper-be-recycled/350404/6 "2006-03-29T20:11:19Z")

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Very well then, pardon me…  
it seems I have some calls to make…