I thought I was clear about the paper and cardboard recycling rules, but it turns out that my coffee drinking habit puts me at risk of breaking the rules.
Think of it under new Easy recycling Guidelines Are your disposable paper coffee cups and lids safe to put in paper and cardboard bins if they are washed? Think again.
Coffee cups are not suitable for your recycling bin, and neither are other common household paper and cardboard items, including non-food related products. Here’s what you need to think about before accidentally throwing away the paper and cardboard that comes into your home.
Article continues below
What items are prohibited in paper and cardboard recycling?
While it’s easy to assume that your paper coffee cups and lids – commonly served by most high street coffee shops or cafes – are safe to pop in your paper and cardboard recycling because they’re not plastic, in short, they’re not.
In hindsight, it didn’t seem like a lot of time to work this out. Paper or cardboard alone are no protection against liquids, so they’re not just made of paper, says Lucas Hargreaves, recycling expert. Leave the Higher Networkexplains.
“Most takeaway coffee cups can’t go into standard UK recycling because they are lined with plastic. That lining makes them difficult to process. Some popular coffee chains offer in-store recycling, but if you’re at home, ‘paper’ coffee cups and lids are usually put in the general waste, unless your council asks your local council to check otherwise.”
There’s another food-related item, Lucas says, that homeowners often forget and happily dispose of in their recycling without realizing the risk.
“A big culprit in our homes is what people think is recyclable but sometimes it’s not. Greasy pizza boxes are generally not recyclable, unless you tear out the clean parts,” he warns.
“Wet paper or cardboard is often rejected, so any takeaway containers, cake boxes with greasy spots or boxes that have become damp cannot be recycled.”
The same goes for paper straws. Their size, and the fact that they are usually coated with any liquid you drink through them, prevents them from entering the recycling stream. And, as we all know, they also absorb liquids so they’re usually pretty drenched by the time you finish the drink.
However, most of them are biodegradable, which is good, but not without restrictions. Biodegradable The items are now excluded from your food waste Under the new rules, you will therefore have to dispose of it in your normal waste.
Other paper items that may be hazardous
So what other standard household items should you avoid putting in your paper and cardboard recycling?
Wrapping paper and greetings cards have always been a gray area for me, so I asked Lucas to explain the rules for these items as well.
“It depends on the type of wrapping paper and greeting card, and it can be hard to know,” he agrees. “Plain paper wrapping can usually be recycled, but anything with foil, glitter or a shiny coating cannot. The same goes for cards – plain cards can be recycled, but avoid trying to recycle with extras like ribbons, batteries or coatings.”
And what about the tape, stickers or any extra material that makes up part of the paper or cardboard packaging that comes into your home?
“It’s best to remove as much as you can, especially large pieces of plastic or heavy sticky material,” Lucas says, “but if you can’t separate them completely — such as small pieces of parcel tape, shipping labels or stickers, or stubborn, tiny glue residues — most modern recycling can filter them out before the process.”
“But, it is always considered best practice to remove as much of this as possible before recycling to avoid contaminating the load,” he notes.
Lucas Hargreaves has almost eight years of experience in the recycling industry, with a focus on turning strategy into delivery. Lucas has also earned two B Corp accreditations with 100+ scores, embedding sustainability into the core of the business rather than treating it as a bolt-on. Lucas is driven by building viable, well-run businesses that create long-term commercial and environmental value.
Shop for these items to make waste management easier
Amazon
Recycle stickers for bins
A pack of four stickers to put on bins to help identify which recycling stream they can be placed in
Amazon
Bottle recycling bins for Dollar Boss kitchens
Store bottles up to 110 liters in this compartment with a removable, waterproof and washable liner.
Amazon
Vidateco Cross Cut Shredder
Shred your paper waste to remove personal details and fit more into your paper and cardboard recycling
Paper and Cardboard Recycling Guidelines
So what else can you do to ensure you don’t fall foul of the new paper and cardboard recycling guidelines? Even if your Council is exempt from changes For now, it’s good to understand What can and cannot go in your recycling.
As is relevant advice Wash your plastic before going to recyclingPaper and cardboard also follow the rules to avoid contaminating the rest of your recycling bag or box.
To keep your recycling on the right side of the guidelines, keep the following in mind:
- Flatten all boxes before putting them out. It saves space in your bin, speeds up collection and helps recycling teams process materials more efficiently.
- Keep the cardboard dry by storing it indoors or under cover until collection day.
- Do not bag it before placing it in a dedicated bin, box or bag
- Look out for waxed, coated and foil-lined packaging as these generally cannot go in the paper and card stream.
- Check your council’s guidance if you are unsure.
FAQs
Are there rules about the size and quantity of paper and cardboard I can recycle?
“There aren’t strict size limits, but storage works best when everything fits roughly in your bin with the lid completely closed,” says Lucas Hargreaves. “Large boxes should be flattened, and if necessary, cut into smaller pieces so they don’t get stuck or left behind during storage.
“If you have extra cardboard, start by flattening and stacking it to make the most of the space,” he suggests. “If it still doesn’t fit, you can spread it over several collections. Alternatively, take it to a local recycling center, which usually accepts large amounts without any problems.”
Do I need to remove my name and address from the packaging?
Although the paper and cardboard you’re recycling will go through a pulping process, as explained below, you still need to be conscious about sharing your personal details, says Lucas Hargreaves.
“Anything with your name, address or account details on it is worth removing, as things may still be visible when sorting. The easiest option is to tear off labels or cut out sections with personal information. For more sensitive documents, cutting is a safer option. If you don’t have a shredder, just tearing the paper into very small pieces works.”
What happens to paper and cardboard in the recycling process?
What happens to your recycled paper and cardboard once it leaves your home?
“In short, once collected, paper and cardboard are sorted and turned into pulp,” says Lucas Hargreaves. “That pulp is then reused to make new products like packaging or newspapers, so it’s all reused instead of wasted.”
With a homebuilding and renovating pole he reveals 4 in 5 homeowners are still confused by the new recycling rulesIf you’re still unsure about the new rules, find out What happens if you put items for recycling in your general trash?And why most of all The council cannot charge you for supplying you with recycling bins or bags.
