What paper can and cannot be recycled?

Paper products continue to be one of the most recyclable materials in Australia, with more than 90% of papers and paper products being recycled from households, businesses, and construction and demolition across the country. According to the Energy Efficiency Exchange, using recycled fibre in paper manufacturing consumes less energy, water, and chemical agents compared to virgin fibre, as it requires less raw material and energy to pulp recycled paper products than virgin wood chips. However, not all paper products are created equal when it comes to recyclability. This article outlines what paper can and cannot be recycled in Australia, along with the reasons behind these distinctions.

Australia’s recycling system readily accepts a wide range of paper products commonly found in homes and offices. Most clean, dry paper can be placed in yellow-lidded recycling bins across the country.

The following paper items can be recycled in most councils:

• Newspapers, magazines, and catalogs
• Office paper (white and coloured)
• Junk mail, brochures, and flyers
• Envelopes, including those with plastic windows
• Phone books and directories
• Greeting cards (without metallic elements)
• Paper bags (if clean and dry)
• Scrap paper and notepaper

Paper can typically be recycled 5-7 times before the fibers become too short and need to be downcycled into lower-quality products like tissues, newspapers, and egg cartons [1]

Cardboard products represent a significant portion of recyclable paper materials. These include:

• Cardboard boxes (flattened to save space)
• Milk and juice cartons (rinsed and emptied)
• Egg cartons
• Cereal boxes and other food packaging boxes
• Detergent boxes
• Pizza boxes (only if clean/not greasy)
• Tissue boxes
• Manila folders and binder dividers (with metal removed)

Despite paper’s high recyclability rate, several paper products cannot be processed through standard recycling streams due to various factors, including contamination, mixed waste materials, and fibre quality issues.

Paper products contaminated with food, oils, or other substances are generally not recyclable:

• Greasy pizza boxes (the clean parts can be torn off and recycled)
• Food-stained paper packaging
• Paper plates and bowls with food residue
• Take-away paper packaging

The Australian Recovered Paper Specifications document explains that contamination in paper recycling refers to the inclusion of inappropriate materials, such as grease, chemicals, or food residues, that may affect paper quality and grade.

These items generally have fibers that are too short for recycling and may present hygiene concerns:

• Tissues, toilet paper, and napkins
• Paper towels
• Nappies/diapers

As explained by Clean Vibes, “Not only is it unhygienic for items containing bodily fluids to be processed alongside other recyclables, the paper fibers in these items are too short to recycle making it too difficult to recover any worthwhile material. [2]”

Various treatments and coatings can make paper products non-recyclable:

• Wax-coated paper and cardboard (like fruit boxes)
• Thermal paper (receipts, fax paper)
• Butcher paper (plastic coating)
• Parchment and baking paper
• Glossy wrapping paper
• Coffee cups (plastic lining)
• Photographs (chemical coating)

Items composed of paper combined with other materials often cannot be processed in standard recycling:

• Padded envelopes with bubble wrap
• Coffee filters
• Liquid paperboard containers (in some councils)
• Paper plates and bowls with plastic or wax coating

Some paper items require special handling or have varying acceptability across councils:

• Shredded paper (often not accepted in regular recycling but may be accepted in separate paper bins or composted)
• Cardboard coffee cups (acceptability varies by council)

Understanding why some paper products cannot be recycled helps clarify the restrictions and encourages proper sorting.

Papers with fibres that are too short or degraded cannot be effectively recycled:

• Tissues, toilet paper, and paper towels have fibres that are too short to be recoverable in the recycling process
• Paper that has already been recycled multiple times may have fibres too short for further recycling

Contaminants can compromise entire batches of recycling:

• Food, grease, and oil contamination renders paper products unrecyclable
• According to Australian Recovered Paper Specifications, contamination in paper recycling refers to inappropriate materials that may affect paper quality and grade

Some papers contain substances that are harmful to the environment or recycling process:

• PFAS additives in water and grease-resistant food packaging (like coffee cups) pose environmental concerns
• Thermal paper receipts contain BPA or other chemicals that can contaminate recycled paper
• NSW EPA notes that “Fibre-based food contact materials… often contain additives to provide water and grease resistance in food packaging, and can include per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) which may cause human and environmental harm.“

Technical limitations in recycling facilities affect what can be processed:

• Soft plastics within paper products can jam machinery
• Small items like shredded paper can fall through sorting equipment
• Mixed material items are difficult to separate in standard recycling processes

Sources:

[1] https://methodrecycling.com/

[2] https://www.wrightwayproducts.com.au/