Sort it right: mixed paper recycling

Mixed paper recycling is easier than you think, even in hospitals and residential care facilities. The following tips will make mixed paper recycling fast, easy, and effective, while keeping collection staff safe and preventing recyclable materials from being contaminated with non-recyclable waste.

What belongs in a mixed paper recycling bin?

All non-confidential paper products belong in mixed paper recycling bins:

• newspapers, magazines, and flyers
• box board packaging for gloves, tissues, medicine, and food
• craft paper and wrapping paper
• paper packaging
• books with hard or soft paper covers

What should go in the garbage bin?

Paper products that can’t be recycled belong in garbage bins:

• paper that is soiled, wet, or covered in food
• paper with a plastic or wax coating, such as:

• • coffee cups
  • packaging (e.g., for lap sponges, vascular tourniquet kits, and Medi-Vac non-conductive suction tubes)

• paper that has soft plastic attached to it (soft plastic must be removed and put into the garbage before the paper component can be recycled in mixed paper)

The rip test

How do you know if the paper has wax or plastic in it? Do the “rip test”:

• if the paper rips easily, there is enough paper fiber to be recycled in mixed paper
• if the paper can’t be ripped easily, it must go in the garbage

If you don’t have time to do the “rip test,” if you are unable to remove attached soft plastic, or if you’re in doubt, dispose of the paper in the garbage.

Why it’s worth sorting your paper recycling

Sorting mixed paper correctly prevents having whole bags of recyclables contaminated and disposed of in the garbage.

For more information

Visit GreenCare Community’s Recycling Questions page for more information on which items can be recycled.

Questions? Contact sustainability consultant Sonja.Janousek@fraserhealth.ca